MINARY    INTRODUCTION 


ENTOMOLOOY 


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Preliminary  Introduction 


TO    THE 


Study  of  Entomology. 


TOGETHER  WITH  A  CHAPTER  ON 

REMEDIES,  OR  METHODS  THAT  CAN  BE  USED  IN  FIGHTING  INJURIOUS 

INSECTS;  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE  APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT, 

AND  THE  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


LAWRENCE  BRUNER, 

Professor  of  Entomology  in  the  University  of  Nebraska, 

Acting  State  Entomologist,  Experiment 

Station  Entofnologist,  Etc. 


LINCOLN,  NEBRASKA,  1894. 

^ — 

Jacob  North  &  Co.,  Printers. 


PRRFAGR. 


This  book  has  been  prepared  for  the  purpose  of  partially  supplying  a 
demand  that  seems  to  exist  here  in  the  West  for  an  elementary  work  on 
entomology  such  as  can  be  used  in  the  public  schools  and  on  the  farm. 
It  is  not  an  original  production,  but  comprises  notes  from  many  sources 
as  they  have  been  gathered  by  the  writer  and  presented  from  time  to  time  in 
talks  to  his  classes  in  the  University  of  Nebraska  and  before  audiences  at 
farmers'  institutes  throughout  the  state. 

The  chapters  on  remedies  and  on  apple  and  small  grain  insects  have 
been  compiled  and  rearranged  from  the  writings  of  such  eminent  economic 
entcmoligists  as  Professors  C.  V.  Riley,  A.  S.  Forbes,  L.  O.  Howard,  J.  H. 
Comstock.  J.  A.  Lintner,  Herbert  Osborn,  Otto  Lugger,  C.  M.  Weed,  H.  E. 
Weed,  H.  Garman,  C.  P.  Gillett,  F.  M.  Webster,  Chancellor  F.  H.  Snow, 
and  a  number  of  other.s.  The  illustrations  also  have,  in  most  instances, 
been  obtained  from  the  same  sources  and  are  credited  to  their  authors. 

The  first  part  of  this  book  is  practically  the  same  as  his  report  for 
1893  as  entomologist  to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  The  appendix  on 
the  insect  enemies  of  the  apple  tree  and  its  fruit  was  printed  in  the  Hor- 
ticultural Society's  report  for  the  year  1894.  The  paper  on  insect  ene- 
mies of  small  grains  was  contained  in  last  year's  Agricultural  report,  and 
is  reproduced  here  so  as  to  bring  together  under  one  cover  accounts  of 
as  many  of  our  common  injurious  insects  as  can  conveniently  be  done  at 
this  time  without  adding  anything  to  the  cost  of  the  book. 

It  is  hoped  by  the  writer  that  the  work  will  meet  with  the  approval  of 
those  for  whom  it  was  intended.  If  this  proves  true,  he  will  feel  amply 
repaid  for  the  time  spent  in  its  preparation. 

LAWRENCE  BRUNER. 

Lincoln,  Neb.,  June  1, 1894. 


A 

PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

TO   THE 

Study  of  Entomology. 


For  Use  in  Schools  and  on  the  Farm. 


The  study  of  insects,  or  entomology,  as  the  subject  is  more  frequently 
called,  is  becoming  more  and  more  essential  each  succeeding  year  as  the 
country  grows  older  and  the  injuries  caused  by  these  creatures  increase. 
The  old-time  feeling  of  contempt  for  all  creeping  things  has  gradually 
died  away,  so  that  at  present  it  is  seldom  entertained  by  any  but  the  most 
ignorant.  So  great  has  been  the  change  in  this  respect  that  even  the  in- 
dividual who  "  stoops  so  low  "  as  to  make  a  special  study  of  "  bugs "  is 
allowed  to  mingle  with  "  sane  "  people  upon  an  equal  footing.  True,  he 
must  still  frequently  submit  to  a  little  good-natured  jeering  by  those  of 
higher  ambitions  with  whom  he  may  venture  to  associate.  All  this  indi- 
cates a  rapid  advance  for  the  science,  as  well  as  for  its  votaries,  in  the 
eyes  of  the  public. 

From  the  standpoint  of  the  teacher,  no  other  subject  of  natural  history 
offers  as  great  advantages  for  aiding  the  development  of  the  powers  of 
observation  in  children  as  does  entomology.  The  vast  amount  and  at  the 
same  time  varied  material  that  is  always  at  hand  in  every  region  and 
clime  renders  the  subject  of  great  importance  for  this  feature  alone. 

Although  a  very  important  study  to  the  agriculturist  at  least,  Ento- 
mology is  still  in  its  infancy  as  a  distinct  branch  of  natural  history  when 
compared  with  Botany  or  Ornithology.  In  fact  it  has  been  so  little  taught 
in  our  colleges  even  that  we  are  practically  without  suitable  text-books 
on  the  subject.  It  is  true  that  a  number  of  publications  have  appeared 
within  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years  that  in  part  fulfill  the  needs  of  the 
would-be  student  of  insects.  These,  however,  are  the  productions  of 
systematists  and  not  of  teachers,  and  consequently  contain  such  an  array 
of  technical  or  "scientific"  names  as  to  discourage  at  the  outset  most  of 
the  aspiring  students  in  insect  lore.  The  result  is  practically  the  opposite 
of  what  was  intended  when  these  books  were  prepared  and  presented  to 
the  student  world. 

While  the  writer  of  this  paper  may  be  a  little  self-reliant,  he  is  not  so 
presumptuous  as  to  imagine  that  he  can  supply  the  deficiency  at  this 


6  A  PBELIMINABY  INTBODUCTION 

time  nor  in  the  near  future.    He  is  willing,  though,  to  at  least  try  to  pre- 
sent a  short  general  outline  of  the  subject  for  this  occasion. 

The  study  of  entomology,  like  that  of  a  number  of  other  subjects,  can 
be  made  interesting  to  the  student  from  different  standpoints.  It  can  be 
taught  as  a  mere  science  in  which  the  systematic  collecting  and  classify- 
ing of  an  indefinite  number  of  widely  distant  forms  are  pinned  and  the 
technical  or  '•  Latin  '*  names  are  attached.  It  can  be  made  a  study  in 
which  the  transformations  and  growth  of  the  creatures  under  considera- 
tion occupy  the  time  of  the  pupiL  Again,  by  choosing  to  follow  the  life- 
histories  of  various  forms  much  interest  may  be  aroused.  In  addition 
to  the  above,  a  careful  study  of  the  habits,  both  remarkable  and  interest- 
ing, of  many  of  our  most  common  species  will  reward  the  teacher  as 
weU  as  the  scholar  for  the  time  thus  spent.  Add  to  these  the  application 
of  preventives  and  remedies  by  which  to  check  or  lessen  the  ravages  of 
injurious  species,  and  we  have  a  study  which  'is  both  pleasing  and 
profitable. 

What  is  an  insect,  then,  and  in  what  respect  does  it  differ  from  the 
many  other  "creeping  things"  that  literally  fill  the  world  about  us? 
This  is  a  question,  the  answer  to  which  many  may  desire  to  learn. 
Briefiy,  an  insect  is  a  representative  of  the  class  Tnsecta  among  the 
branch  Articulata  (or  as  more  recent  writers  would  have  us  say,  the 
Arthropopoda)  of  the  animal  kingdom.  As  in  all  other  articulates  an 
insect's  body  is  made  up  of  rings  or  "  joints,"  which  are  fastened  one  be- 
hind the  other.  Its  legs  and  other  appendages  also  partake  of  this  same 
jointed  nature.  It  is  also  provided  with  a  system  of  air  tubes  or  trachea 
that  ramify  the  body  and  open  to  the  air  by  means  of  little  holes  along 
its  sides.  These  breathing  pores  are  called  sjyiracles  or  stomata,  and  rep- 
resent the  nostrils  of  higher  animals.  An  insect  proper  has  but  six  legs 
(three  pairs),  while  spiders,  mites,  ticks,  scorpions,  etc.,  (class  Arach- 
NiD.v),  are  provided  with  eight,  and  the  centipedes  and  millipedes  (class 
Mtbiapoda)  have  more  than  fourteen.  An  insect  differs  further  from  all 
of  these  in  having  its  body  separated  into  three  well-defined  rigions,  viz. : 
Tiead,  thorax,  and  abdomen.  It  is  from  this  last  mentioned  characteristic 
that  the  name  "In'Secta"  is  derived,  the  word-  meaning  to  cut  into. 

Insects  also  pass  through  successive  transformations  that  are  quite 
marked  and  characteristic  of  the  group.  These  are:  first,  the  egg;  sec- 
ond, the  larva;  (which  takes  on  different  names  in  the  various  orders,  as 
for  example,  "maggots'''  of  flies,  '■'■caterpillars'''  of  butterflies  and  moths, 
"grubs"  of  beetles,  and  '■'nymphs''  of  mayflies;  grasshoppers,  etc.);  third, 
pupa;  fourth,  the  imn.go.  The  first  or  "beginning"  stage  of  an  insect's 
life,  in  common  with  that  of  a  great  many  other  animal  forms,  is  the  egg. 
The  second  or  larval  stage  of  an  insect's  life  may  be  called  the  "stage  of 
growth,"  for  it  is  during  this  period  that  most  if  not  all  of  the  growth  is 
made— when  the  food  is  taken  and  assimilated  that  carries  the  creature 
through  the  next  and  frequently  also  through  the  last  stage.  The  pupal, 
or  third  stage,  should  be  called  the  "  stage  of  rest "  in  an  insect's  life,  al- 
though it  is  by  no  means  entirely  one  of  inactivity  save  with  but  compar- 
atively few  forma.    The  last  or  fourth  stage  is  that  of  the  imago  or  mature 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  i 

insect.  Daring  this  stage  the  first  and  foremost  object  in  its  life  is  pro- 
viding for  the  continuation  of  the  species  when  it  is  dead  and  gone.  It 
might  therefore  well  be  termed  the  "  stage  of  reproduction."  Aside  from 
these  different  stages  of  existence  an  insect  grows  or  increases  in  size  by- 
molts  or  successive  sheddings  of  its  skin.  When  one  skin  becomes  too 
small  to  contain  the  rapidly  growing  larva  it  cracks  open  and  the  occu- 
pant wriggles  out  enveloped  in  a  new  and  looser  covering.  This  also  in 
turn  soon  becomes  too  small  and  is  likewise  cast  off,  the  operation  being 
repeated  four  or  more  times  during  the  growth  of  the  larva  after  leaving 
the  egg  and  before  entering  the  resting  (pupa)  stage.  In  like  manner  the 
change  from  the  pupa  to  the  imago  stage  is  made  by  a  shedding  process. 

Some  insects  feed  continuously  while  passing  through  the  larval  stage. 
■•  It  is  doubtful  whether  some  ever  sleep  or  rest  except  during  molting 
periods  or  when  disturbed.  Some  flesh-eating  larvae  have  been  know  to 
consume  two  hundred  times  their  original  weight  in  twenty-four  hours, 
and  there  are  caterpillars  which,  during  their  progress  to  maturity,  in- 
crease in  size  ten  thousand  times  inside  of  thirty  days."  Imagine,  then, 
the  amount  of  food  that  must  be  consumed  by  an  insect  in  order  that  it 
can  increase  so  greatly  in  weight. 

Right  here  considerable  time  might  profitably  be  spent  in  studying  the 
great  variety  of  conditions  under  which  these  four  stages  occur  among 
different  insects;  and  to  learn  something  of  the  senses  as  they  are 
exhibited  by  these  creatures— how  instinct,  or  perhaps  reason,  directs 
their  movements  when  selecting  the  proper  means  for  insuring  the  safety 
of  future  generations  of  their  kind.  Some  time  might  also  be  given  to 
following  the  gaudy  butterfly  as  it  flits  over  the  greensward  in  quest  of 
the  proper  food-plant  upon  which  to  leave  its  eggs  so  that  the  larvae  when 
hatched  would  not  find  the  food  distasteful  and  die  of  starvation.  Later, 
we  might  spend  a  little  time  in  watching  the  caterpillar  carefully  creep- 
ing to  some  secluded  spot  wherein  to  rest  as  a  pupa  or  "chrysalis." 
Truly,  "  the  first  law  of  nature  is  self  preservation  "  as  exhibited  in  all 
life,  both  animal  and  vegetable. 

Insects  occur  in  all  countries,  at  all  times  of  the  year,  and  under 
nearly  every  condition.  They  infest  our  homes,  fields,  woods,  and  prai- 
ries ;  they  occur  upon  and  within  the  bodies  of  domestic  and  wild  ani- 
mals, as  well  as  in  the  air,  water,  and  earth.  No  region  is  without  one  or 
more  forms  of  these  creatures.  They  enter  into  and  affect  our  daily  lives 
more  or  less  prominently  everywhere  and  under  nearly  every  condition. 
We  are  more  or  less  dependent  upon  them,  or  at  least  utilize  many  of  them 
or  their  products  in  our  food,  clothing,  and  the  arts  almost  every  day  of 
our  existence.  In  fact,  among  the  insect  world  we  find  both  friend  and 
foe,  be  our  calling  in  life  what  it  may.  They  come  across  our  pathway  as 
enemies  to  all  kinds  of  useful  vegetation,  as  parasites  that  attack  and  in- 
fest usefxil  animals.  We  may  meet  them  on  the  other  hand  as  friends 
that  assist  in  the  fertilization  of,  and  in  gathering  honey  from  flowers, 
make  wax,  spin  silk,  act  as  scavengers  by  removing  decaying  animal  and 
vegetable  substances,  or  in  the  form  of  parasites  upon  and  within  the 
bodies  of  the  enemies  mentioned  above. 


8  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

If  the  distinct  species  or  kinds  of  other  animals  are  numerous,  those 
of  the  class  Insecta  are  very  much  more  numerous.  Various  estimates 
by  competent  authorities  have  placed  their  numbers  as  high  as  from  two 
to  ten  millions  of  species.  In  comparison  it  is  estimated  that  all  the 
other  animal  forms  which  probably  occur  upon  the  globe  will  scarcely 
reach  one  million  species.  No  wonder,  then,  that  the  entomologist  is 
often  credited  with  being  "  crazy."  It  is  quite  enough  to  make  him  so  if 
he  only  keeps  track  of  one-fourth  or  at  most  one-third  of  these  in  all 
their  changes,  food  habits,  haunts,  names,  relationships,  etc.,  without 
being  obliged  also  to  "keep  posted"  in  reference  to  such  other  "creep- 
ing things"  as  the  Myriapoda,  Arachxida,  some  of  the  Crustacea  along 
with  the  Vermes,  and  a  few  of  the  other  forms  to  the  number  of  about 
a  half  million  species,  or  fully  one-half  of  the  remaining  forms  of  ani- 
mal life. 

Since  there  are  so  very  many  distinct  species  or  kinds  of  these  crea- 
tures with  which  we  must  deal,  it  is  quite  necessary  that  something 
should  be  known  of  their  relationships  one  to  another  in  order  to  make 
their  study  at  all  possible  from  the  economic  or  any  other  standpoint. 
To  do  this  the  most  readily  they  have  been  arranged  or  classified  into 
major  and  minor  groups.  These  groups  have  been  established  or  based 
upon  the  structure  of  the  various  forms  of  which  they  are  made  up. 
Other  classifications  of  the  class  Insecta  can  and  have  been  suggested, 
taking  for  their  basis  food-habits,  haunts,  and  the  presence  or  absence  of 
wings.  The  former  classification  is  a  more  or  less  natural  one,  and 
actually  exists  in  nature,  the  latter  are  altogether  artificial  and  are  used 
chiefly  for  convenience,  by  those  who  sometimes  have  occasion  to  employ 
them. 

While  it  is  not  absolutely  essential  for  one  to  know  the  systematic  re- 
lations of  an  insect  that  may  come  under  bis  or  her  notice,  it  certainly 
facilitates  matters  if  references  are  to  be  made  to  books  with  a  view  of 
learning  what  has  been  published  about  the  species.  By  knowing  the 
order  to  which  your  insect  belongs  you  are  one  step  closer  towards  the 
information  sought.  With  a  knowledge  of  the  order  in  mind  to  which 
your  specimen  belongs,  you  can  at  once  refer  to  the  literature  treating  of 
that  group ;  and  then  by  the  aid  of  analytical  keys  there  is  but  little 
difficulty  experienced  in  "running  your  insect  down"  to  the  family, 
genus,  and  possibly  even  to  the  species.  Now,  with  the  name  of  the  speci- 
men at  hand,  it  is  easier  to  find  a  record  of  its  life  history,  provided  this 
is  known  and  has  been  recorded,  than  would  be  the  case  without  this 
knowledge.  It  is,  therefore,  quite  evident  that  even  the  work  of  the  sys- 
tematist  must  be  acknowledged  as  of  some  value  to  the  ordinary  student 
of  "  bugs "  and  "  bug  lore "  If  pursued  entirely  from  the  economic 
standpoint. 

Originally  insects  were  separated  into  seven  orders  by  Linnaeus,  which 
arrangement,  with  but  slight  modifications,  has  been  in  use  for  many 
years.  These  orders  as  generally  accepted  were  as  follows,  commencing 
with  the  most  simple  in  structure  and  proceeding  towards  the  highest  or 
most  complex  in  structure  :  1. — Neuroptera ;  2.— Orthoptera  ;  3.— Dip- 
tera ;  4.— Hemiptera  ;  5.— Lepidoptera ;  6.— Coleoptera ;  7. — Hymenop- 
tera.  If,  however,  we  are  to  begin  with  the  highest  and  proceed  to  the 
simplest,  the  numbering  of  the  orders  should  be  reversed.  More  re- 
cently Friederich  Brauer  has  remodeled  or  reconstructed  this  classifica- 
tion upon  the  basis  of  sixteen  instead  of  seven  orders.  This  change  was 
decided  upon  only  after  very  much  careful  study  of  insect  structure  and 
development  from  the  egg  to  maturity.  The  following,  with  some  modi- 
fications, is  Brauer's  classification  as  given  by  Hyatt  and  Arms  in  their 
admirable  little  book  entitled  "  Insecta  :  " 


TO  THE  STUD'S  OP  ENTOMOLOGY.  » 

I.  Thtsanuba.     (Spring-tails,  Fish-moths,  Snow-fleas,  etc.) 

II.  Ephemeroptera.     (May -flies,  Day-flies.) 

III.  Odonata.    (Dragon-flies,  Darning-needles.) 

IV.  Plecoptera.    (Stone-flies.) 

V.  Platyptera,    (Biting-lice,  Book-lice,  White  ants  or  Termites.) 

VI.  Dermaptera.    (Earwigs.) 

VII.  Orthoptera.  (Cockroaches,  Mantides,  Walking-sticks,  Grass- 
hoppers, Locusts,  Katydids,  and  Crickets.) 

VIII.  Thysanoptera.     (Thrips  or  Fringe-wings.) 

IX.  Hemipteba.    (Tree-bugs,  Tree-hoppers,  Plant-lice,  etc.) 

X.  Coleoptera.    (Beetles.) 

XL    Neuroptera.    (Lace-wings,  Ant-lions,  Shad-flies,  etc.) 

XII.  Mecoptera.    (Scorpion-flies.) 

XIII.  Triohoptera,    (Caddis-flies.) 

XIV.  Lepidoptera.    (Butterflies,  Moths.)  i^" 

XV.  Hymenoptera.    (Saw-flies,  Ants,  Bees,  Wasps.) 

XVI.  Diptera.     (Mosquitos,  Flies,  Fleas.) 

This  arrangement  also  proceeds  from  the  simpler  to  the  more  complex 
or  specialized  forms,  as  will  readily  be  seen  by  any  one  who  knows  just  a 
little  about  our  common  insects  and  is  acquainted  with  the  popular 
names  of  these  creatures.  The  appended  arrangement  will  also  show  at 
a  glance  the  changes  that  have  been  made  and  the  relations  which  the 
two  classifications  bear  to  each  other  : 

1.  Hymenoptera. — Hymenoptera,  XV. 

2.  Coleoptera. — Coleoptera,  X. 

3.  Lepidoptera.— Lepidoptera,  XIV. 

4.  Hemiptera.-  \  Hemiptera,  XI  -  j  heSo Jtera. 

(  Thysanoptera,  VIII. 
^      Dtptfra  — Dtptpra  XVI  —  \  Including  Aphaniptera,  or 

a.  UIPTERA.-UIPTERA,  AVI.—  |  gipHONAPTERA  of  SOmC  authorS. 

fi     Ortttoptpra        \  Orthoptera,  VII. 

b.  URTHOPTERA.-  j  DerMAPTERA,  VI. 

'Trichoptera,  XIII. 

Mecoptera,  XII.      [  Neuroptera. 

Neuroptera,  XI. 

Platyptera,  V. 

Plecoptera,  IV. 

Odonata,  III.  J-Pseudoneuroptera. 

Ephemeroptera,  II. 

Thysanura,  I. 

By  referring  to  the  above  chart  it  will  be  seen  that  the  changes  are 
not  so  great  after  all  as  one  would  naturally  suppose  them  to  be.  The 
orders  Diptera,Lepidoptera,  and  Coleoptera  remain  unchanged.  From 
the  Hemiptera  have  been  separated  a  smali  group  of  diminutive  forms 
as  a  distinct  order,  viz.,  the  Thysanoptera.  The  old  order  Orthoptera 
included  also  the  forms  that  are  now  set  aside  under  the  name  Der- 
maptera. From  the  old  Neuroptera,  however,  we  notice  a  great  change. 
Here  we  find  six  new  orders  made  from  what  before  were  considered  only 
families  belonging  to  the  one  order.  These  changes,  instead  of  adding 
confusion  to  the  classification,  greatly  simplify  matters.  We  are  no 
longer  compelled  to  mass  into  one  group  forms  with  a  diversity  of  struc- 


7.    Nedbopteba.— 


10  A  PEELIMINAKY  INTRODUCTION 

ture,  metamorphosis,  and  habits  as  belong  to  the  various  creatures   that 


TS-TSU.? 


TaiiT-a- 


•^--etei^iU 


Fig.  l.—MelanopJns  spretna  (Rocky  Mountain  Locnst),  dlseected  eo  as  to 
Bhow  the  different  parts — from  above,     [After  Kingsley.) 

were  thrown  together  into  the  one  order  Neueoptera  simply  because 
they  would  not  fit  into  any  of  the  other  six  recognized  divisions.  Some 
of  these  insects  have  a  very  complete  metamorphosis,  as  the  Caddis-flies, 
(Trichopteea)  for  example ;  others  have  scarcely  any  indication  of 
change  in  form  from  the  time  of  leaving  the  egg  until  arriving  at  ma- 
turity, as  is  the  case  in  the  members  of  the  order  Thysanuba.  In  still 
others  we  find  greatly  different  degrees  of  metamorphosis.  These  differ- 
ences can  best  be  presented  to  the  student  by  taking  up  the  orders  into 
which  the  class  Insecta  is  divided  and  describing  them  one  by  ona 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


11 


The  Coarse  Anatomy  of  In- 
sects.— A  reference  to  the  ac- 
companying outline  figures  of 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Locust 
will  give  the  student  some 
idea  of  the  structure  of  an 
insect.  The  various  parts  of 
this  insect  have  the  same 
names  as  like  parts  in  other 
insects,  hence  if  they  are 
learned  for  this  one,  the  names 
will  apply  equally  well  to  all 
others.  In  glancing  the  names 
over  carefully  it  will  be  seen 
that  they  are  very  similar  to 
those  used  for  like  parts  in 
other  animals.  In  addition 
to  the  terms  in  use  for  the 
various  parts  of  the  human 
body  there  are,  of  course  some 
special  names  that  are  used 
in  connection  with  insects 
alone.  This  is  likewise  true 
of  all  other  special  branches 
of  natural  history,  and  there" 
fore  the  would-be  student  of 
ly  Entomology  should  not  be 
discouraged  on  account  of 
this  array  of  new  and  special 
names  that  accompany  the 
subject. 

If  we  take  any  grown  grass- 
hopper, or,  more  properly 
speaking,  locust,  and  examine 
it,  we  will  find  that  it  is  made 
up  of  a  number  of  rings  at- 
tached one  behind  the  other. 
These  rings  are  grouped  into 
three  well-marked  regions 
which  have  -already  been 
mentioned  as  head^  thorax, 
and  abdomen.  The  head  is 
provided  with  a  number  of  at- 
tachments as  for  example  the 

^     „    „    t.   ^r"""!^-    r        +     1 1- „i  ^  =»,„„i^„    antennce,  lahrum,  mandibles^ 
Fio.  2.— Rocky  Monntain  Locust— side  view  Bhowing  '  ' 

anatomy  of  outside.    [After  Kingsley.]  maxillcB,     labium,     and    eyes- 


12 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


Some  of  these  also  bear  additional  parts, 
which  add  to  the  seeming  complexity  of  the 
region.  To  the  thorax  we  find  attached  the 
organs  for  locomotion,  viz.,  the  legs  and 
wings.  The  abdomen  is  the  region  devoted 
to  digestion,  assimilation,  and  is  the  location 
of  the  organs  of  reproduction. 

Examining  the  insect  again,  we  find  that 
the  outside  is  composed  of  hardened  walls 
so  as  to  form  a  sort  of  protection  for  the 
softer  internal  parts.  In  other  words,  the 
insect's  skeleton  is  on  the  outside  and  the 
muscles  and  other  tissues  on  the  inside. 
The  muscles  are  attached  to  the  inner  sur- 
face of  the  skeleton-like  rings  of  which  the 
outside  is  composed.  In  this  way  a  much 
greater  strength  is  developed  in  an  animal 
of  correspondingly  smaller  size. 

By  examining  the  anatomy  of  an  insect 
a  little  more  fully,  we  find  the  following 
conditions:  Kea-d.  —  Antennce,  the  two 
many-jointed,  thread-like  attachments  that 
project  forwards  from  the  face  in  front  of 
and  between  the  eyes.  These  are  called 
feelers,  and  possibly  serve  the  purpose  of 
some  special  sense  that  we  know  nothing 
about.  The  labrum  or  upper  lip  is  a  sort  of 
curtain  that  hangs  in  front  of  the  mandi- 
bles or  true  jaws,  which  are  used  for  biting 
and  chewing  the  food.  Behind  these  latter 
are  located  a  secondary  pair  of  jaws,  the 
maxillce,  which  also  assist  in  the  mastica- 
tion of  food,  and  to  each  of  which  is  at- 
tached a  five-jointed  appendage  known  as 
palpce  or  feelers.  Still  back  of  these  ac- 
cessory jaws  is  the  labium  or  lower  lip, 
which  also  is  composed  of  two  parts,  to 
each  of  which  is  attached  still  another  of- 
these  jointed  appendages  similar  to  the  ones 
connected  with  the  maxillce.  Thobax.— The 
thorax  is  composed  of  three  joints,  which  are 
commonly  called  the  pro-thorax,  mesa-tho- 
rax, and  meta-thorax  respectively.    Each  of 


Fio.  's.— Section  thronp:h  body  of  these  joints  bears  a  pair  of  legs,  and  the  meso- 


female  Kocky  Mountain  Locust, 
showing  internal  anatomy.  [After 
Burgess], 


and  meta-thorax  also  bear  a  pair  of  wings 
each.    The    pro-thorax  is  moderately  free 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


13 


14 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTEODUCTION 


Fig.  5.— Female  R.  M.  Locust  from 
above,  showing  distribution  of 
nerve  centera.— [After  Emerton.] 


from  the  other  two  joints  as  well  ds  from 
the  head.  Each  of  the  six  legs  that  an  in- 
sect possesses  is  also  made  up  of  a  number 
of  joints  that  have  special  names  applied  to 
them.  Beginning  at  the  body  we  first  have 
the  coxa,  or  the  movable,  ball-like  joint 
that  works  in  a  socket  within  the  body. 
Next  in  rotation  is  a  small  joint  called  the 
trochanter,  after  which  follows  the  femur 
or  thigh,  and  then  the  tibia  and  tarsus  re- 
spectively. The  wings  are  called  by  dif- 
ferent names,  and  are  more  or  less  divided 
into  regions  by  principal  veins  that  bear 
special  names  and  that  often  are  brought 
into  use  by  the  systematist  as  a  basis  for 
classifying  the  different  genera  and  species. 
The  front  pair,  called  tegmina  in  the  pres- 
ent insect  and  its  allies,  are  used  partly  for 
flight  and  partly  as  a  protection  to  the  hind 
pair,  which  are  more  delicate,  and  that  are 
folded  lengthwise  like  a  fan,  as  can  be  seen 
by  examining  first  figure  given  on  page  284. 

Abdomen. — The  abdomen  of  a  locust  is 
composed  of  ten  segments  or  joints,  and 
contains  the  intestines,  ovaries,  etc.,  and 
ends  in  the  ovipostor  qr  male  claspers  ac- 
cordingly as  the  specimen  is  male  or  female. 
The  ovipositor  is  composed  of  four  horny 
plates  that  are  pointed  and  curved  so  that 
the  insect  can  dig  into  the  ground  for  the 
deposition  of  her  eggs.  (See  Fig.  1,  B,  r  at 
right  hand  lower  corner). 

As  the  external  anatomy  of  an  insect  dif- 
fers greatly  from  that  of  higher  animals,  so 
does  also  its  internal  structure  differ  much 
from  that  of  them.  The  circulatory  apparatus 
is  composed  of  a  long  tube-like  sac  that  is  lo- 
cated along  the  upper  side  of  the  body  and 
which  is  provided  with  a  number  of  valves. 
This  vessel  which  is  shown  in  Fig,  3  at  5, 
beats  in  a  similar  manner  to  the  heart  of 
higher  animals.  The  nervous  system  is  not 
nearly  so  complicated  nor  so  centralized  in 
its  location  as  we  find  it  in  mammals,  etc. 
It  is  confined  near  the  lower  surface,  and  in- 
stead of  being  centralized  in  the  head  it  has 
a  number  of  enlargements  along  its  course 
as  can  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  illustra 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


15 


tion,  Fig.  5.  The  breathing  arrangement  of  insects  can  be  seen  in  figure 
4  and  differs  materially  from  what  we  are  accustomed  to  see  in  other  and 
higher  animals.  Imagine  a  number  of  holes  along  both  sides  of  the  body 
through  which  air  is  obtained  directly  into  tubes  which  follow  the  courses 
of  the  principal  blood  vessels,  and  you  have  a  pretty  fair  idea  of  what 
the  breathing  apparatus  of  an  insect  is  like. 

ORDER  I.  THYSANURA.—(  TasseZ  Tails.) 
That  the  many  different  forms  of  insect  life  may  be  presented  to  the 
reader,  it  will  be  best  to  take  for  our  first  example  a  few  of  those  belong- 
ing to  the  order  Thysanura  mentioned  in  a  former  paper.  As  stated 
there  these  insects  are  all  very  simple  in  their  structure,  are  rather  small 
as  compared  with  many  others,  are  all  without  wings,  and  are  the  same 
form  when  leaving  the  egg  as  when  mature.  Many  of  the  Thysanura  are 
nearly  or  quite  blind,  living  as  they  do  in  the  earth  and  under  stones 
away  from  the  light.  Not  only  do  the  members  of  this  group  of  insects 
represent  creatures  of  comparatively  simple  structure,  but  they  also  ex- 
hibit much  variation  among  themselves  as  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to 
the  six  accompanying  illustrations.  In  the  order  are  found  forms  that 
show  close  relationship  to  the  Myriapoda  or  "thousand  legs."  The  dif- 
ferent species  of  Scolopendrella.  which  name  is  the  diminutive  of  Scolo- 
pendra,  the  Centipede,  and  which  are  considered  by  many  systematists 
as  the  very  lowest  representatives  of  the  class  Insecta,  are  provided  with 
accessory  abdominal  legs  like  the  Myriapods;  but  differ  from  the  latter 
by  having  the  legs  five-jointed  and  ending  in  two  claws  instead  of  a  single 
one.  Their  bodies  also  resemble  those  of  the  next  group  (see  Fig.  6)  more 
than  they  do  those  of  the  Myriapods. 

So  greatly  do  these  simple,  minute  creatures  differ 
among  themselves  that  they  have  been  separated  into 
three  suborders,  viz.:  Symphyla,  Cinura,  and  Collemhola. 
Of  the  first  suborder  we  have  no  illustration  for  an  ex- 
ample, but  refer  the  reader  to  the  description  of  Scolo- 
pendrella above.  In  the  next  suborder  we  meet  with 
creatures  that  also  bear  the  jointed  abdominal  ap- 
pendages upon  the  seven  basal  segments  at  least.  These, 
however,  are  quite  short  and  are  not  used  in  walking. 
Like  the  others  these  live  in  dark  localities.  The  thread- 
like, jointed,  anal  appendages  are  very  similar  to  those 
on  the  head  end,  and  possibly  serve  similar  purposes  in 
the  economy  of  their  possessors— in  the  absence  of  the 
eyes  very  likely  acting  as  guides  for  feeling  the  insect's 
way  and  in  notifying  it  of  the  approach  of  an  enemy  from 
behind. 

Another  type  of  this  order  is  shown  in  Fig.  7,  and  is 
Fig.  Q.-Campodea,.  known  as  Jajyyx.  These  insects  are  also  blind  and  live 
in  dark,  damp  places.  The  one  illustrated  herewith  is  one-half  inch  or 
more  in  length,  and  occurs  in  Mexico  where  it  is  not  at  all  rare  in  the 
vicinity  of  Orizaba  and  Cordova.  In  the  United  States  a  smaller  species 
occurs  where  it  inhabits  caverns  and  like  localities.  These  insects  are 
characterized  by  their  caudal  appendages,  which  resemble  those  of  the 
earwigs  and  form  a  pair  of  horny  forceps  or  pincers. 


16 


A  rEELIMINAEY  INTRODUCTION 


A  third  type  of  Thysanuran  insect  belonging  to   this  suborder  is 
shown  in  Fig.  8.    This  latter  is  known  as  Lepisma  to  the  entomologist, 
and  as  Fish-moth  to  the  average  mortal.     It  is  a 
common  household  pest,  and  often  does  consider- 
/  ^    i^lK  \  ^^^^  iiij'iry  by  feeding  upon  the  paste  used  in  the 

/  Ttolni%ft^^^  \  ^^°^di^S  o^  books.  Its  form  is  quite  similar  to  the 
I  ..,^  ^^^^"  ■  ^  I  Campodea,  but  the  appendages  and  scales  with 
I  jljH||]^$)iiij|_'ilff°^  I  which  it  is  provided  change  its  appearance  not  a 
little.  It  also  has  eyes,  and  in  length  exceeds 
one-quarter  of  an  inch.  These  three  insects  are 
types  of  the  families  that  comprise  the  sub- 
order Cinura. 

By  far  the  largest  number  of  species  among  the 
order  belong  to  the  family  Poduridae  or  Spring- 
tails  of  the  suborder  Collembola.  The  latter  are 
usually  very  small— often  not  more  than  one- 
tenth  of  an  inch  or  less  in  length— and  like  most 
of  the  other  representatives  of  the  order  are 
found  in  damp  places  where  they  occur  in  large 
numbers.  Three  of  these  "spring-tails"  are 
shown  in  Figs.  9,  10,  and  11.  Several  species  of 
these  are  often  seen  jumping  about  upon  snow 
during  early  spring,  even  when  the  temperature 
of  the  air  is  below  the  freezing  point,  hence  the 
name  "  Snow-fleas  "  that  is  sometimes  applied  to 
them, 
the  Thysanurans  are  to  be 
classed  among  the  non-injurious  insects,  since  their 
food  consists  for  the  most  part  of  decaying  vegetation, 
as  of  various  molds  and  other  microscopic  vegetable 
forms.  A  few  of  them  are,  however,  directly  injurious, 
as  for  example  the  Fish-moth  and  one  or  two  allied 
genera. 

Aside  from  their  being  interesting  as  the  simplest 
types  among  insects,  these  little  creatures  in  them- 
selves present  a  rich  field  for  study  to  the  student  who 
cares  to  examine  little  things.  They  are  admirable  sub- 
jects for  testing  the  use  and  possibilities  of  the  micro- 
scope. Taking  the  world  over  there  are  very  many 
genera  and  species  of  Thysanuran  insects. 


Fig.  l.—Japyx, 

Generally  speaking. 


Fig.  i.—Tomocerna. 


Pio.  i.—Leplama, 


19 


TO  THE  STUDY  QF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


17 


Fig.  lO.—Degeerla. 


FiQ.  ll.—Smyntbnrns. 


ORDER  II.    F,PB.EMEROFTEB,A.— {May -flies,  Day  flies.) 

If  the  Thysanarans  are  the  lowest  or  most  primitive  among  insects,  as 
is  now  generally  acceded  by  the  students  of  natural  history,  the  May-flies 
must  certainly  be  placed  next  in  order.  Their  simple  structure  and  but 
slight  change  in  form  from  the  time  of  leaving  the  egg  until  attaining 
wings  and  maturity  alike  indicate  a  low  position  in  the  scale  of  advance- 
ment towards  the  very  complex  insect  as  found  among  the  Hymenoptera 
and  Diptera. 

A  reference  to  the  illustration  given  in 
figure  12  will  indicate  at  once  to  the  reader 
what  the  insects  are  like  which  are  placed 
in  this  order.  Although  there  are  many 
species  of  May-flies  to  be  met  with  in  the 
United  States,  they  are  very  much  more 
numerous  both  in  species  and  individuals 
about  large  bodies  of  water  than  in  other 
localities.  Of  course  this  is  quite  evident  to 
anyone  when  he  has  learned  that  they  live 
in  water  during  their  growing  or  larval  an(J 
pupal  stages.  While  the  various  species  djf 
fer  considerably  one  from  the  other  in  size 
and  appearance,  they  all  have  in  common 
certain  characteristics  which  at  once  distin- 
guish them  from  all  other  insects.  They 
are  very  delicate  and  f  ragil,  with  large,  many- 
veined  front  wings  that  are  usually  carried 
folded  with  their  upper  surfaces  together 
and  held  at  right  angles  with  the  body  when 
at  rest.  The  hind  wings  are  rather  small  or 
entirely  absent  in  some  forms;  and  the  ab- 
domen ends  in  either  two  or  three  long, 
many-jointed  thread-like  appendages,  as  is 
shown  in  the  figure.  Unlike  some  of  the 
Fio.  12.— May-fly  and  larva,  Thysanura  their  bodies  are  smooth,  i.  e.,  they 


18  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

are  not  clothed  with  scales  or  hairs.  The  head  is  free  and  provided 
with  rather  large,  compound  eyes.  The  antennae  are  short  and  in- 
conspicuous, and  the  mouth-parts  but  poorly  developed  or  atrophied. 
This  condition  being  due  to  the  fact  that  no  food  is  taken  by  the  insects 
during  their  existence  as  imagoes.  Other  characteristics  might  be  men- 
tioned as  belonging  to  these  insects  exclusively,  but  will  be  left  for  some 
future  time  or  some  other  writer  to  describe. 

Aside  from  the  scientific  interest  which  attaches  to  these  creatures, 
May-flies  have  received  much  attention  from  non-scientific  writers  on 
account  of  their  short-lived  existence  as  adult  insects.  In  fact,  their 
name  signifies  "of  short  life."  While  these  popular  notions  as  to  the 
lives  of  the  different  representatives  of  the  order  are  not  very  clear,  they 
have  some  foundation.  Taking  the  entire  life  cycle  of  any  particular 
May -fly  into  consideration,  these  insects  are  rather  long-lived  than  other- 
wise. Some  species  appear  twice  each  year — in  spring  and  autumn  ;  but 
others  require  one,  two,  or  even  three  years  for  a  generation.  When  we 
take  into  consideration  the  fact  that  the  greater  part  of  this  time  is 
spent  under  water,  the  time  in  the  air  certainly  is  short.  "  With  many 
species  the  individuals  leave  the  water,  undergo  two  transformations, 
mate,  lay  their  eggs,  and  die  in  the  course  of  an  evening  or  early  morn- 
ing."   (Comstock.) 

The  immature  stages  of  most  May-flies  resemble  in  body  somewhat 
that  of  their  parents.  With  these  insects  the  skin  is  cast  or  shed  quite 
often  during  the  growth,  being  changed  a  dozen  or  more  times  ;  and  in 
some  instances  as  often  as  twenty-one  of  such  molts  take  place  during 
their  growth  from  the  egg  to  the  imago.  At  first  these  little  nymphs 
breathe  directly  through  the  skin  of  the  body  at  large,  but  after  the  first 
few  molts  rudiments  of  tracheal  gills  appear  at  the  outer  rear  edges  of 
the  abdominal  segments.  These  gill-like  appendages  become  much  modi- 
fied during  the  growth  of  the  larva  and  in  different  genera  ;  and  in  some 
forms  are  also  attached  to  the  front  legs,  head,  and  tip  of  abdomen. 
These  appendages,  which  are  used  for  breathing  purposes,  may  be  either 
thread-like,  tufted,  or  plate-like  in  their  form.  In  Pig.  12  one  of  these 
May-flies,  or,  rather,  May-fly  nymphs,  is  illustrated,  in  which  the  tufts  at 
the  side  of  the  body  represent  the  gills  by  means  of  which  the  insect  ex- 
tracts the  oxygen  from  the  water. 

May-fly  nymphs,  according  to  Eaton,  "  feed  upon  either  mud  or  minute 
aquatic  vegetation,  such  as  cover  stones  and  the  larger  water  plants " 
under  water.  If,  however,  we  are  to  judge  from  the  structure  of  the 
well  developed  mandibles  and  maxillae  with  which  some  of  them  are  pro- 
vided, certain  species  are  very  probably  predaceous  in  their  food-habits. 
In  the  imago  stage  no  food  is  taken  as  has  been  stated  above,  hence  the 
mouth-parts  are  rudimentary  in  their  structure  ;  and  in  fact  the  short 
duration  of  this  stage  renders  it  unnecessary  that  food  should  be  taken 
by  them. 

The  Ephemeroptera  often  appear  suddenly  in  very  large  numbers, 
when  they  are  attracted  to  lights  by  the  millions — sometimes  to  such  an 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  19 

extent  that  they  have  been  known  at  such  times  to  extinguish  the  flames 
of  a  gas  light  with  their  numbers.  So  regular  is  their  appearance  that 
each  year  in  a  given  locality  the  corresponding  date  will  usually  herald 
their  appearance  and  disappearance.  All  the  individuals  of  a  given 
species  also  mature  nearly  simultaneously,  hence  it  is  seldom  more 
than  a  few  days  during  each  year  that  any  single  species  can  be  taken  by 
the  collector. 

While  these  insects  might  be  made  the  basis  for  much  interesting 
study  by  any  one  who  would  care  to  take  them  up  for  this  purpose,  they 
still  remain  but  poorly  worked  so  far  as  this  country  is  concerned. 
Still,  Eaton  in  his  monograph  of  these  insects  enumerates  nearly  one 
hundred  species,  which  he  separates  into  more  than  twenty  genera.  In 
the  classification  of  these  insects  the  wing  venation  is  much  used. 

Aside  from  the  interest  which  attaches  to  the  May-flies  on  account  of 
their  ephemeral  existence  as  adults,  they  are  of  much  economic  value 
as  food  for  many  of  our  fishes — furnishing,  as  some  of  our  authorities 
would  have  us  believe,  fully  one-half  of  their  food  supply. 

ORDER  III.  ODO'^  AT  A.— {Dragon-flies,  Darning-needles,  Snake-feeders, 
Snake-doctors,  etc.) 

Following  the  Ephemeroptera  in  the  order  of  their  ancientness  or 
time  of  appearance  upon  the  earth,  as  well  as  in  their  structure,  are  the 
insects  which  are  known  by  the  above  mentioned  popular  names.  All 
of  the  representatives  of  the  order  are  rather  large  in  size  when  com- 
pared with  many  other  insects,  but  small  in  comparison  with  some  of  the 
ancient  giants  of  the  order  that  are  said  to  have  reached  nearly  two  feet 
in  their  wing  expanse. 

As  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  Figs.  13  and  14,  the  members  of  this 
order  have  a  very  characteristic  form.  The  body  is  long  and  spindle- 
shaped,  the  four  wings  are  long,  narrow,  powerful,  and  supplied  with  a 
network  of  veins.  The  two  pairs  of  these  organs  are  about  equal  in  size 
and  form.  The  head  is  large,  broad,  and  often  semi-globose  in  form,  with 
the  hind  part  concave.  It  is  taken  up  for  the  most  part  by  the  very  large 
compound  eyes  and  is  attached  to  the  prothorax  by  a  slender  neck  upon 
which  it  moves  quite  freely.  The  antennae  are  small  and  bristle-like,  and 
barely  visible  unless  especially  looked  for.  The  mouth-parts  are  very 
well  developed;  both  the  mandibles  and  maxillae  are  strongly  toothed, 
while  the  labrum  and  labium,  or  lips,  nearly  inclose  the  jaws  while  at 
rest.  The  thorax  is  large,  as  must  necessarily  be  the  case  in  order  to  con- 
tain the  necessary  muscles  to  move  the  powerful  wings  with  which  the 
insects  are  provided,  and  which  they  know  so  well  how  to  use.  The  abdo- 
men is  long  and  slender  and  is  provided  at  the  extremity  with  a  pair  of 
claspers  or  cerci.  The  venation  of  the  wings,  which  appears  to  be  very 
complicated,  is  the  chief  basis  for  classification  in  the  order. 

Like  the  Ephemeroptera  the  members  of  the  Odonata  spend  their 
earlier  existence  in  the  water,  where  they  dwell  as  nymphs  that  occupy 


20  A  PRELIMINAEY  INTEODUOTION 

much  of  their  time  in  capturing  and  devouring  such  various  kinds  of 
animal  life  as  they  can  capture  and  overcome.  It  is  needless  to  state  that 
the  "bill  of  fare"  of  these  insects  includes  not  only  the  various  aquatic 
insects  that  occupy  the  same  waters  with  them,  but  also  many  young 
fishes,  worms,  and  crustaceans  fall  before  them  and  go  to  satisfy  their 
ravenous  appetites.  If  we  were  to  see  these  nymphs  for  the  first  time 
moving  about  on  the  bottoms  of  aquaria  or  in  their  native  haunts  in 
their  characteristic  sluggish  manner  little  would  we  think  that  they 
were  such  ferocious  creatures.  Although  the  nymphs  or  larvae  of  these 
insects  vary  considerably  among  themselves  in  form,  their  general  ap- 
pearance is  quite  characteristic.  While  some  of  them  are  very  slender, 
others  are  nearly  as  broad  as  long.  Still  the  structure  of  the  mouth- 
parts  will  readily  distinguish  them  from  all  other  insects.  They  are  pro- 
vided with  well-developed  maxillae  and  mandibles,  all  of  which  are  armed 
with  sharp,  strong  teeth.  By  a  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  lips  none  of 
these  are  visible  when  the  insect  is  at  rest  and  not  feeding.  The  lower 
lip  or  labium  is  greatly  enlarged  and  so  formed  as  to  cover  all  of  the 
other  mouth-parts  like  a  mask.  In  fact,  when  we  look  at  one  of  these 
creatures  from  the  side  we  cannot  help  but  think  of  the  "knights  of  old" 
as  we  remember  them  in  our  picture  books.  In  addition  to  covering  the 
other  mouth-parts  this  lip  is  used  both  as  a  weapon  of  defense  and  for 
seizing  and  holding  the  prey. 

If  the  mouth-parts  of  the  young  Odonata  are  peculiar  when  compared 
to  those  of  other  insects,  their  breathing  apparatus  is  even  more  queer. 
Imagine,  if  you  can,  the  organs  of  respiration  to  be  formed  by  a  modifi- 
cation of  the  rectum  at  the  tail  end  of  the  body.  Tbis  is  somewhat  en- 
larged and  the  walls  well  supplied  with  tracheal  tubes.  By  the  water 
being  alternately  taken  in  and  forced  out  through  the  anal  opening  the 
air  in  the  trachea  becomes  purified.  This  arrangement  for  "  breathing  " 
is  also  made  use  of  by  the  nymphs  as  an  organ  for  locomotion.  By  grad- 
ually drawing  water  into  the  organ  mentioned  and  expelling  it  forcibly 
the  insect  is  enabled  to  move  forward  quite  rapidly.  It  is  thus  provided 
with  a  hydraulic  motor  of  no  mean  design. 

When  fully  grown  and  ready  to  transform  these  nymphs  leave  the 
water,  and  climbing  to  some  object  where  they  cling,  they  crack  open 
along  the  back  of  the  thorax  and  head  to  disclose  the  perfect  insect.  Now 
that  the  insect  has  finally  obtained  its  powerful  wings  and  knows  how  to 
use  them,  it  is  a  dread  enemy  to  weaker  insects  of  many  kinds.  It  is 
especially  inclined  to  search  for  and  devour  flies,  gnats,  and  mosquitos, 
hence  the  popular  name  "  Mosquito-haw,"  that  is  so  often  bestowed  upon 
it.  It  is,  therefore,  more  or  less  due  to  the  abundance  or  scarcity  of  these 
Odonata  in  certain  localities  as  to  whether  or  not  mosquitos  are  trouble- 
some. 

Dragon-fiies  or  "mosquito-hawks"  are  divided  into  several  well- 
marked  families  ;  but  for  ordinary  purposes  they  can  be  separated  into 
two  groups,  the  one  in  which  the  wings  are  all  alike  and  folded  vertically 
in  repose,  and  the  other  where  the  wings  are  somewhat  unlike  and  car- 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


21 


ried  horizontally  when  in  repose.    The  former  type  is  shown  in  Fig  13, 
while  the  latter  is  presented  by  the  illustration  at  14. 

Dragon-flies  usually  require  one  year  for  each  generation.  Some 
species  appear  very  early  in  spring  ;  and  unlike  the  Ephemeroptera,  many 
of  them  live  several  weeks  or  even  months  before  dying  of  old  age.  The 
eggs  of  these  insects  are  laid  in  the  water,  sometimes  singly,  sometimes  in 
masses.  Some  of  the  species  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  under  side  of  the 
abdomen,  where  they  are  carried  until  the  insect  chances  to  come  to  a 
suitable  body  of  water,  when  they  are  soaked  loose  and  allowed  to  settle 
to  the  bottom  upon  the  mud,  where  they  remain  until  hatched.  This  ar- 
rangement enables  the  insects  to  wander  far  away  from  the  bodies  and 
streams  of  water  in  search  of  food. 

Several  species  of  these  insects  have  often  been  known  to  gather  in 
large  numbers  or  swarms  and  then  to  migrate  like  birds.  In  the  wake  of 
such  flights  of  dragon-flies  it  has  been  noticed  that  mosquitoes  and  other 
small,  soft-bodied  insects  are  always  scarce  for 
several  days. 

Before  leaving  the  order  Odonata  for  good,  it 
might  be  well  to  state  that  many  other  interest- 
ing features  in  connection  with  their  anatomy 
and  habits  might  be  mentioned;  but  these  can 
best  be  learned  by  reference  to  a  more  systematic 
Fio.  13.— Agrion.  treatise  on  the  order. 


Fio.  14.— I,/fce;;D7a.— lAfter  Packard]. 


Fio.  K.~ Agrion 
larva. 


Fio.  16.— Larva  of  ^sehna. 
—[After  Packard]. 


ORDER  rV.    PLECOPTERA.— (Sfone-y^tes). 

A  reference  to  Fig.  17  will  show  the  reader  at  a  glance  the  type  of  a  fourth 
order  of  hexapod  insects.  As  will  be  seen  the  illustration  pictures  a 
quite  different  creature  from  any  of  those  mentioned  as  belonging  to 


22 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


either  of  the  preceding  orders.  As  indicated  above,  the  members  of  this 
group  have  received  the  popular  name  of  "  stone-flies."  This  name  is  de- 
rived from  the  habits  of  the  insects  both  as  nymphs  and  imagoes,  since 
they  are,  for  the  most  part,  found  about  stones  and  in  stony  places  along 
streams.  The  larvaa  or  nymphs  are  found  most  numerously  in  swift  run- 
ning streams  with  stone  bottoms.  As  indicated  by  the  figure  of  the 
nymph  at  the  right  in  the  illustration,  they  have  flattened  bodies  fitted 
for  living  under  stones  or  other  flat-lying  objects.  These  nymphs  are  to 
be  recognized,  then,  by  their  very  flattened  bodies  from  which  radiate  the 
limbs,  antennae,  and  anal  setae.  The  latter  are  as  long  or  longer  than  the 
antennae,  many-jointed,  and  are  retained  in  most  of  the  forms  in  their 
imago  stage.  The  legs  and  thoracic  segments  of  many  of  them  are  pro- 
vided with  fringes  or  tufts  of  hair-like  gills  by  means  of  which  they 
"  breathe  "  from  the  water  such  air  as  is  required  by  them.  In  a  few  of 
the  forms  it  is  said  that  these  gill-like  appendages  are  retained  by  the 
imagoes  throughout  life. 

Like  other  aquatic  insects  these  stone-fly  nymphs  leave  the  water 
when  about  to  transform  to  the  perfect  stage.  Climbing  upon  some  ob- 
ject they  cling  fast  by  means  of  their  hooked  feet  and  crack  open  along 
the  back  of  the  thorax  and  head  as  described  above  in  connection  with 
the  nymph  of  the  dragon-fly,  and  disclose  the  imago. 

The  food  of  these  creatures  is  supposed  to  be  chiefly  of  a  vegetable 
nature;  and  in  turn  they  form  quite  an  important  item  in  the  food  sup- 
ply of  fishes. 


Fio.  17.— Stone-fly,  wlng8,  and  nymph.— [H.  G.  Barber.] 

In  the  perfect  insects  we  find  the  body  somewhat  flattened,  elongate, 
with  the  sides  nearly  parallel.  There  are  four  wings,  the  hind  pair  much 
larger  than  the  front  ones,  and  folded  upon  themselves  once.    When  at 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


?3 


rest  the  wings  are  folded  upon  the  body  one  over  the  other  in  a  plaited 
manner,  hence  the  name  Plecoptera,  meaning  "plaited  wings."  The  tarsi 
are  three-jointed;  and,  as  stated  before,  in  most  species  the  anal  setae 
are  retained  during  the  imago  existence. 

The  order  comprises  but  a  single  family,  viz.,  Perlidae;  and  most  of 
our  species  are  placed  in  the  genus  Peria  by  systomatists.  Some  of  these 
insects  transform  to  the  perfect  stage  very  early  in  the  spring,  so  early 
in  fact,  that  they  can  often  be  seen  crawling  upon  snow.  They  vary  in 
size  from  less  than  one-fifth  to  over  an  inch  in  length  exclusive  of  the 
wings;  and  a  few  of  them  have  abbreviated  wings.  Like  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  previous  order,  these  insects  carry  their  eggs  about  with  them 
attached  in  a  mass  to  the  end  of  the  body  until  they  are  finally  dropped 
into  the  water.  Some  of  these  stone-flies  are  considered  excellent  fish-bait. 
On  account  of  their  economic  importance  in  connection  with  the  fish  in- 
dustry of  the  country  these  insects  deserve  to  be  better  known  than  they 
are  at  present.  Should  any  of  my  readers  become  interested  in  them 
they  will  find  some  valuable  aids  by  which  they  will  be  enabled  to  carry 
on  their  investigations. 

ORDER  V.    PLATYPTERA.— (rer??iiYes,  or  White  Ants,  Book-Lice,  and 
Biting-Lice.) 

Very  similar  to  the  imagoes  of  the  last  order  are  certain  small  insects 
that  are  known  as  Termites  or  White  Ants,  since  they  bear  a  slight  re- 
semblance to  the  true  ants 
that  will  be  described  among 
the  Hymenoptera  near  the 
end  of  this  paper.  These 
Termites,  on  account  of  their 
social  habits,  occur  in  many 
special  forms  within  a  single 
colony.  The  great  injury 
which  they  commit,  along 
with  their  modes  of  life,  have 
made  them  noted  among  in- 
sects. The  accompanying 
figure  represents  our  com- 
mon species  in  this  region — 
Termes  flavipes  or  the  Yel- 
low-Footed Termite.  As  most 
b,  male:  e,  worker;  of  these  Termites  have  simi- 

-enlarged.-[After  ^^^  j^^^.^^^  ^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^ 

our  common  species  will  answer  for  all  of  them.  In  presenting  this 
sketch  of  its  life  history,  permit  us  to  quote  from  Hyatt  and  Arms'  little 
work  entitled  "Insecta,"  which,  by  the  way,  is  one  of  the  very  best 
elementary  works  on  entomology  extant. 

"  The  Termites  have  become  well  known  in  Massachusetts  of  late  years 
from  their  depredations    *    *    *    at  the  state  house.     A  colony  of  these 


Fip.  18.  Termes  Bavipes;  i 
d,  soldier;  e,  queen; 
Kiley.] 


,  larva; 
f,    pupa 


24  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

insects  illustrates  the  fact  that  social  habits  tend  to  the  production  of 
diflferent  kinds  of  individuals  fitted  to  perform  different  kinds  of  work. 
The  worker  of  our  common  species  Termes  flavipes  (Fig.  18,  c)  has  a 
light-colored  body  and  a  brown  head  of  medium  size.  The  color  of  the 
head  shows  that  the  insect  performs  the  hardest  work  with  this  part  of 
the  body.  The  thorax  and  abdomen  are  broadly  connected,  while  in  the 
Hymenopterous  ants  the  abdomen  has  a  slender  stem  or  peduncle. 

"  The  mandibles  are  not  large,  but  are  strong  and  horny,  while  in  the 
soldiers  (Fig.  18,  d),  which  perform  greater  labors  for  the  protection  of  the 
colony,  the  head  and  mandibles  are  greatly  developed,  and  the  latter 
deeply  colored.  The  difference  in  structure  between  these  two  individ- 
uals is,  in  fact,  exactly  proportioned  to  the  amount  and  kind  of  work 
they  perform.  It  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  the  worker  obliged  to 
work  below  has  its  head  turned  downward  at  right  angles  with  the  body, 
while  the  soldier,  using  his  mandibles  in  fighting  in  narrow  places,  has 
its  head  extending  forward  or  in  a  line  with  the  body.  Both  workers  and 
soldiers  may  be  of  either  sex,  but  the  reproductive  organs  are  (only) 
slightly  developed.  They  are  blind,  the  eyes  being  absent,  and  they 
never  have  wings,  the  name  Platyptera  referring  to  the  wings  of  the 
male  and  female.  They  are  in  reality  larvae  which  never  pass  through 
the  pupal  stage,  but  are  arrested  in  development,  and  in  the  soldier  the 
head  is  abnormally  developed  to  accomplish  the  special  work  of  attack 
and  defense.  The  larvae  proper,  or  young  Termite,  is  white ;  even  the 
tips  of  the  mandibles  are  only  slightly  tinted,  while  the  hooks  of  the 
feet  are  entirely  colorless.  *  *  *  The  larval  Termites  are  nursed  by 
the  workers  who  prepare  their  food  and  tend  them  with  great  care.  The 
resemblance  of  these  larvae  to  the  Thysanuran  insects  is  seen  in  the  shape 
of  the  body  and  the  distinct  thoracic  rings.  Those  forms  that  are  des- 
tined to  develop  into  males  and  females  are  kept  longer  under  the  care 
of  the  workers,  and  pass  through  the  pupa  stage.  The  pupae  are  color- 
less like  the  larvae,  but  have  eyes  and  wing-pads  fringed  with  hairs.  They 
are  active,  and  therefore  the  metamorphosis  of  Termites  is  direct. 

"There  are  two  castes  of  males  and  females.  The complemental  males 
and  females,  as  they  are  called,  are  supposed  never  to  leave  the  nest. 
They  are  of  light  color,  like  the  workers.  In  case  of  need  several  of 
these  females  are  substituted  for  a  true,  prolific  queen.  They  can  pro- 
duce but  few  eggs,  however,  and  do  not  enlarge  as  does  the  queen.  The 
king  and  queen  caste  arises  in  the  spring.  They  fly  out  in  clouds  from 
the  nests  for  their  marriage  flight.  They  then  alight  on  the  ground  and 
loose  their  wings.  The  workers  select  from  these  a  "pair  for  each  nest, 
and  the  rest  soon  die.  The  royal  pair  are  housed  in  a  special  apartment. 
In  Termes  flavipes  this  caste  is  dark  chestnut  or  black,  but  the  royal  pair 
have  never  yet  been  found  in  any  nest. 

"The  colorlessness  of  the  Termites  is  interesting,  since  it  correlates 
with  their  habits.  They  are  more  exclusively  confined  to  their  nests  than 
the  ants,  and,  like  cave  animals,  being  protected  from  the  action  of  the 
atmosphere  and  light,  they  are  colorless  or  only  slightly  colored.    The 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  25 

exceptional  coloring  of  the  jaws  in  larvsB  before  they  begin  to  feed  is  prob- 
ably due  to  inheritance,  the  vestiges  of  a  time  when  they  lived  an  open  and 
freer  existence,  and  had  not  yet  arrived  at  the  remarkable  stage  of  spe- 
cialization which  they  now  exhibit." 

The  number  of  eggs  that  are  laid  by  a  single  Termite  are  simply  won- 
derful, since  as  many  as  sixty  eggs  per  minute  have  been  counted,  or  up- 
wards of  eighty  thousand  per  day,  if  that  rate  were  kept  up  continuously. 

Termites  are  exceedingly  numerous  in  the  warmer  regions  of  the  earth 
and  in  these  localities  do  much  injury  to  property.  They  work  into  wood 
of  all  kinds,  and  by  eating  out  the  interior  of  the  boards  and  timbers  and 
leaving  the  outside  untouched,  buildings  often  collapse  suddenly  when 
they  are  apparently  sound  from  outward  appearance. 

In  Mexico  where  the  writer  had  an  opportunity  to  study  these  insects 
much  injury  was  observed  in  the  city  of  Orizaba,  where  great  beams  in  a 
building  had  become  so  weakened  by  their  attacks  as  to  require  propping 
or  renewing  in  a  very  few  years.  Railroad  ties  of  wood  are  soon  destroyed 
by  them,  and  are  now  substituted  by  ties  of  iron  upon  the  roads  running 
through  the  "  tierra  calientes  "  or  hot  country.  When  a  large  forest  tree 
falls  these  insects  immediately  attack  it,  and  along  with  others  and 
the  action  of  fungi  of  various  kinds,  soon  reduce  it  to  vegetable  mold. 
Still  further  south  Termites  are  said  to  be  much  more  numerous  and  also 
correspondingly  more  destructive  to  everything  wooden.  Even  articles 
of  furniture  left  standing  in  darkened  or  poorly  lighted  rooms  for  several 
months  at  a  time  have  been  known  to  receive  their  attention  and  col- 
lapsed when  used  for  the  first  time  after  such  a  rest.  One  species  of  Afri- 
can Termite  constructs  for  itself  hillocks  of  clay  from  ten  to  twelve  feet 
in  height.  "In  the  center  of  these  and  near  the  surface  of  the  ground  is 
the  royal  chamber  occupied  by  the  king  and  queen.  Extending  a  foot  or 
more  around  this  chamber  on  all  sides  are  the  apartments  of  the  workers 
and  soldiers,  and  beyond  these  the  storehouses.  It  is  a  significant  fact 
that  while  all  other  chambers  are  built  of  clay,  the  nurseries  are  '  totally 
different,'  being  made  of  wooden  materials,  apparently  cemented  together 
with  gum."  In  the  Mexican  species  that  came  under  our  notice  the  nest 
appeared  to  be  made  entirely  of  this  wood  fibre  mixed  with  saliva  or  some 
insoluble  gum-like  substance  that  made  the  nest  very  strong  and  at  the 
same  time  very  light. 

PsooiDiEi. 

The  insect  shown  in  Fig.  19  is  known  as  a  "Book-louse."  It  is  suf- 
ficiently similar  in  its  structure  to  the  Termites  to  be  placed  along  with 
them  in  the  same  order.  As  will  be  seen  by  studying  the  illustration, 
these  Psocids  are  small  and  remind  one  of  the  plant-lice,  as  will  be  seen 
by  reference  to  those  insects  further  on  in  the  paper.  Their  head  is 
large  in  comparison  to  the  size  of  the  body;  and  the  wings  when  present 
are  ample  and  reach  beyond  the  tip  of  the  abdomen.  The  compound 
eyes  are  small  though  prominent,  and  when  examined  under  a  high 


26 


A  PEELIMINAEY  INTKODUCTION 


power  lens  appear  like  a  blackberry.    The  antennse  are  long  and  slender. 

The  mouth-parts  are  for  biting. 
The  food  of  these  insects  is  some- 
what variable,  being  either  vege- 
table or  animal,  according  to  the 
species  under  consideration.  Those 
that  live  out-of-doors  feed  for  the 
most  part  upon  lichens  and  other 
dry  vegetation,  while  some  of  the 
indoor  forms  are  museum  pests  by 
infesting  and  feeding  upon  botani- 
cal and  entomological  specimens. 
They  also  infest  books,  hence  the 
name  "book-lice." 

These  insects  are  very  active  and 

run    either    backward   or    forward 

seemingly  with  equal  facility.   Their 

small  size  and   light  colors  render 

them  protection  where  large  insects 

Fio.  l9.-P8ocid.-[After  Packard.]  ^^^^^  ^e  detected  and  destroyed  or 

routed.    They  can  be  kept  out  of  collections  of  plants  and  insects  by  the 

use  of  napthalin  crystals  if  these  are  strewn  about  the  cabinets. 

Mallophagid^. 

Still  others  of  the  six-footed  insects  are  classed  in  the  order  Platyp- 

tera,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  accompanying  nine  cuts  which 

represent  certain  parasitic  animals  known  as  biting  lice.    Most  of  these 


Fia.  20.— The  Chicken  Goniodee. 
Goniodea  dissimiUs  Nitzsch.— 
[After  Denny.] 


Fio.  21. Pigeon  Goniodes. 

Goniodes  damicoruia  Nitzsch. 
—[After  Osborn.] 


Fia.  22,— Peacock  Gon- 
iodes.—Goniodes  fa/cJ- 
cornia  Nitzsch.— [Af- 
ter Denny.] 

are  parasites  of  birds,  though  a  considerable  number  of  them  are  also 
known  to  infest  mammals.  Some  species  of  birds  are  known  to  harbor 
more  than  a  half  dozen  kinds  of  these  biting  lice,  and  most  kinds  have 


TO  THE  STUDY  QF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


27 


23.— Squalid  Dack 
louse,  Lipiurus  sqa- 
alidus  Nitzsch.— [Af- 
ter Oeborn.] 


FiQ.  24.— Biting  louse  of  cattle. 
Tricbodectes  scalaria  Nitzsch. 
-[After  Oeborn.] 


FlO.  25.— Biting  louse  of 
as8.     Tricbodectes 
pilosua  GiebeU    [After 
Piaget.] 


Fio.  26. — Common  Hen 
I^ouse.  Menopon  pal- 
lidum, Nitzsch.— [After 
Denny.] 


Fio.  27.— Guinea-Pis  Louse. 
Gyropns  ovalis,  Nitzsch. — 
[After  Denny.] 


Fio.  28.— Variable 
Chicken  Louse. 
Ljpeurns  vari- 
ablia,  Nitzsch.— 
[After  Denny,] 


28 


A  PRELIMINAKY  INTEODUCTION 


at  least  one  species  that  is  characteristic  to  it  alone.  Unlike  the  Ter- 
mitidge  and  Psocidse,  which  are  terrestrial  the  Mallophagidae  are  wholly 
parasitic,  "and  possess  the  usual  specializations  noticeable  in  such 
groups."  They  are  all  wingless,  and  possess  biting  mouth-parts  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  sucking  mouth-parts  of  the  "  true  "  lice.  Instead  of 
living  upon  the  blood  of  their  hosts  these  lice  feed  upon  dandruff,  feath- 
ers, etc. 

These  lice  can  be  killed  by  using  grease  upon  the  animals  which  they 
infest.  The  kerosene  emulsion  which  is  described  in  the  chapter  devoted 
to  "  remedies  "  is  one  of  the  very  best  remedies  that  can  be  used  against 
these  and  other  lice.  The  plan  upon  which  grease  works  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  these  animals  is  that  of  suffocation;  it  chokes  up  the  breathing 
pores. 

ORDER  VI.     DERMAPTERA.— (^arwt». 

In  this  order  we  find  a  repetition  of  the  form  of  the  Thysanuran 
known  as  Japyx  which  is  mentioned  and  figured  in  connection  with  that 
order.  (See  Fig.  7.)  It  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  accompanying 
Figs.  29  and  30,  that  these  insects  possess  at  the  tips  of  their  bodies  a 
pair  of  forceps  or  pincers.  It  is  this  character  which  gives  them  the 
family  name  Foeficulid^,  the  word  "  f orflcula  "  signifying  scissors.  The 
nam«  "  earwig  "  is  harder  to  trace  to  its  origin,  although  there  is  a  super- 
stitious notion  extant  that  these  insects  enter  the  ears  of  sleeping  per- 
sons and  cause  injury  to  those  organs.  It  is  needless  to  state  that  such  a 
notion  as  this  in  connection  with  the  representatives  of  the  order  under 
consideration  has  no  foundation  whatever.  A  much  better  interpretation 
of  the  origin  of  this  name  might  be  suggested  by  the  supposition  that 
the  name  as  originally  written  was  "  ear-wing "  on  account  of  the  re- 
semblance of  their  unfolded  hind  wing  to  the  human  ear.  A  reference  to 
the  illustration  will  at  once  indicate  why  this  suggestion  is  offered  as  a 
solution  of  the  name  "  ear-wing  "  which  could  very  easily  be  rendered 
"  ear-wig  "  by  abbreviation. 


Fib.  29.— Earwig:  1,  matnre  male;  2,  nymph;  3,  wing  unfolded.  Fig.  30.— Forffcula  tmni&ta. 

The  members  of  the  order  are  all  terrestrial  in  their  haunts.    In  form 

they  are  elongate,  with  the  bodies  more  or  less  flattened,  and  the  legs 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 

adapted  for  running.  The  first  or  front  pair  of  wings  is  leathery,  and 
when  folded  form  a  protection  to  the  second  and  very  delicate  flying 
wings.  These  latter,  as  would  be  imagined  both  from  their  appearance 
and  from  the  fact  of  their  being  so  snugly  tucked  away  underneath  the 
small  front  pair,  must  be  much  folded,  A  second  and  more  careful  ex- 
amination of  the  figure  will  give  the  reader  some  sort  of  an  idea  as  to 
how  this  folding  is  done.  They  are  first  folded  like  a  fan  and  then  laid 
back  upon  themselves  in  the  middle  before  being  tucked  away  beneath 
the  leathery  pair.  It  is  thought  that  for  this  purpose  the  anal  forceps  are 
used  to  some  extent. 

The  food-habits  of  these  insects,  as  far  as  known,  are  entirely  of  a 
vegetable  nature.  The  mass  of  the  species  are  confined  to  the  warmer 
parts  of  the  earth  where  they  often  do  much  injury  to  showy  plants  by 
gnawing  their  blossoms  full  of  unsightly  holes.  They  are  nocturnal  in 
their  habits,  and  during  daytime  remain  hidden  away  from  view  in  all 
kinds  of  nooks  and  crannies.  In  this  state  there  are  but  three  of  the  ear- 
wigs known,  and  these  are  very  rare  and  seldom  seen  by  anyone  except 
the  entomologist  who  knows  where  and  how  to  look  for  them. 

The  female  Dermaptera  lays  but  few  eggs  and  then  watches  or  broods 
over  them  until  they  are  hatched,  after  which  she  sometimes  cares  for  the 
young  as  an  old  hen  does  for  her  brood  of  chicks.  Such  a  sight  as  this  is 
of  very  common  occurrence  in  the  southern  part  of  our  country  if  the 
individual  takes  the  trouble  to  lift  the  loose  bark  from  fallen  trees. 

Less  than  five  hundred  species  of  these  insects  have  been  described 
from  the  entire  world;  and  some  of  them  show  much  variation  in  their 
form  from  the  typical  earwig  as  shown  in  the  illustration  (Fig,  29).  Many 
of  them  are  wingless  throughout  their  lives.  One  of  our  Nebraska  species 
is  shown  in  Fig,  30. 

ORDER  VII.  OB.TE.OFTF.B.A.— {Straight-winged  Insects.) 
The  insects  which  comprise  this  order  are  among  some  of  our  com- 
monest and  best  known  forms.  They  are  such  as  the  Cockroaches,  Crick- 
ets, Walking-sticks,  Grasshoppers,  Locusts,  and  Katydids,  All  of  these 
insects,  it  will  be  seen,  are  quite  readily  separated  from  other  forms, 
such  as  we  have  already  noticed,  as  well  as  from  such  others  as  will  be 
described  in  the  succeeding  pages. 

In  writing  of  the  members  of  this  order  Comstock  says :  "  Although 
the  song  of  the  katydid  and  chirp  of  the  cricket  are  most  often  asso- 
ciated with  recollections  of  pleasant  evenings  spent  in  the  country,  we 
cannot  forget  that  to  the  members  of  this  order  are  due  some  of  the 
most  terrible  insect  scourges  man  has  known.  The  devastations  caused 
by  great  swarms  of  migratory  locusts  are  not  only  matters  of  historical 
record,  but  are  too  painfully  known  to  many  of  our  own  generation  in  the 
western  states."  Certainly  many  of  us  here  in  Nebraska  have  had  occa- 
sion to  know  what  a  "  grasshopper  "  plague  signifies. 

As  a  rule  the  food-habits  of  these  insects  are  such  as  to  make  them 
directly  injurious  to  man.    They  are  vegetable  eating,  or  as  it  is  more 


30  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

commonly  called,  herbivorous,  and  many  of  them  are  so  numerous  as  to 
become  of  great  economic  importance.  If,  therefore,  rather  more  space 
is  given  here  to  their  treatment  than  to  that  of  a  few  of  the  less  injurious 
orders,  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  better  acquainted  with  them. 

These  insects  are  provided  with  four  wings,  the  two  pairs  being  quite 
different  in  structure.  The  front  pair  is  leathery  in  texture  and  serves 
as  a  protection  to  the  more  delicate  hind  pair.  They  have  received  the 
special  name  tegmina  for  the  order  in  distinction  to  that  of  elytra  of 
beetles  and  bugs,  and  •primaries  of  the  butterflies  and  moths.  In  most 
of  the  representatives  of  the  order  the  tegnina  are  thickly  reticulated 
with  a  net-work  of  veins.  Their  structure  and  position  differ  considerably 
in  the  different  families  and  afford  excellent  characters  for  separating 
them.  The  hind  wings  are  also  quite  thickly  netted  with  veins,  the  prin- 
cipal ones  being  arranged  somewhat  like  the  ribs  or  bars  of  a  folding 
fan,  and  like  a  fan  they  are  similarly  folded  when  not  in  use.  In  fact,  the 
name  "  Orthoptera  "  has  its  origin  from  this  manner  of  folding  the  wings. 

A  number  of  different  characters  are  used  in  the  classification  of 
the  Orthoptera  by  systematists  who  have  made  the  group  a  special  study. 
Some  of  these  are  variations  in  the  form  and  position  of  the  eyes  and 
antennae,  structure  of  the  vertex  of  the  head,  form  of  the  pronotum  or 
upper  part  of  the  front  ring  of  the  thorax,  the  form  and  venation  of  the 
tegmina,  the  number  and  arrangement  of  the  spines  on  the  bind  tibiae, 
form  of  terminal  segment  of  the  abdomen,  and  in  the  presence  or  ab- 
sence of  a  spine  between  the  bases  of  the  front  pair  of  legs.  In  some 
groups  one,  and  in  others  other  of  these  characters  are  employed  for 
separating  the  genera  and  species. 

Like  the  members  of  all  the  preceding  orders  that  have  thus  far  been 
characterized,  the  Orthoptera  have  an  incomplete  metamorphosis.  Hence 
the  young  grasshopper,  cockroach,  or  cricket,  is  of  much  the  same  form 
when  it  first  leaves  the  egg  as  are  its  parents.  It  also  remains  active  and 
feeds  throughout  most  of  its  growing  stage.  Some  forms  are  without 
wings  throughout  their  lives,  but  others  begin  to  show  signs  of  these 
appendages  after  the  third  moult.  The  nymphs,  as  the  young  of  these 
insects  are  usually  called,  can  at  once  be  recognized  from  the  imagoes  by 
the  structure  of  these  appendages,  even  in  such  species  as  have  rudimen- 
tary wings  in  maturity.  In  the  immature  insects  the  wing-pads  are  in- 
verted, as  "shown  by  the  curving  down  of  the  extremities  of  the  wing- 
veins  instead  of  up,  as  with  the  adults;  and  the  rudimentary  wings  are 
outside  of  the  wing-covers,  instead  of  beneath  them.  There  is  also  the 
distinction  that  these  rudiments  of  the  second  pair  of  wings  are  triangu- 
lar in  outline,  and  are  flat,  not  folded;  while  the  wings  of  the  adults  are 
more  or  less  folded,  even  when  too  small  to  be  of  use  as  organs  of  flight." 

It  is  in  the  order  Orthoptera  also  that  we  find  nearly  all  of  the  insects 
which  are  said  to  be  provided  with  a  "voice."  Many  of  the  representa- 
tives of  the  three  higher  families  Acrididse,  Locustidae,  and  Gryllidae  are 
very  characteristic  musicians;  and  one  fairly  well  acquainted  with  these 
.nsects  can  readily  recognize  the  different  species  by  their  song.    Queerly 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 

enough  is  the  fact  that  in  these  three  families  we  also  find  what  are  sup- 
posed to  be  well-developed  ears.  In  the  Acrididse  these  ears  are  located 
on  the  sides  of  the  body  at  the  base  of  the  abdomen;  and  in  the  katydids 
and  crickets— representative  forms  of  the  two  other  families  referred  to 
above — these  organs  are  located  near  the  upper  extremities  of  the  front 
tibiae.  If  these  are  ears,  as  they  certainly  appear  to  be,  would  not  this 
suggest  the  thought  that  each  form  of  life  is  created  for  itself  alone? 
Otherwise  why  not  have  ears  to  hear  the  voices  of  birds,  of  man  and  other 
forms  of  life?  Each  seems  to  struggle  for  itself  alone  at  the  expense  of 
all  others. 

The  order  is  separated  into  six  super-families,  which  in  turn  are 
divided  into  smaller  groups.  For  convenience  these  insects  have  been 
grouped  as  follows  with  reference  to  certain  leading  characteristics  be- 
longing to  them: 

I.   CuKSOJSiA,  or  Runners,  which  includes  the  Blattidse  or  Cockroaches. 
II.   Raptobia,  or  Graspers,  which  includes  the  Mantidae  or  Rearhorses. 

IIL  Ambulatoria  or  Walkers,  which  includes  the  Phasmidae  or  Walk- 
ing-sticks. 

IV.  Saltatoria  or  Jumpers,  which  include  the  Acrididae  or  Locusts 
or  short-horned  Grasshoppers,  the  Locustidae  or  long-horned  Grasshop- 
pers and  Katydids,  and  the  Gryllidae  or  Crickets. 

Family  1.  Blattid^. — {Cockroaches.) 
Nearly  everybody  will  recognize  the  insects  that  are  shown  in  Figures 
31  and  32  as  old  acquaintances,  even  if  they  do  not  know  the  names  by 
which  they  are  known  to  entomologists.  Cockroaches  are  fiat-bodied, 
spiny-legged,  quick-running  creatures  that  love  darkness  rather  than 
light;  and  which  are  almost  omnivorous  in  food-habits.  The  two  forms 
shown  here  frequent  houses  in  this  part  of  the  country  where  they  make 
themselve  at  home  in  the  kitchens  and  pantries.  They  are  also  very  nu- 
merous about  basements  and  in  bakeries,  in  which  places  they  gather  in 
warm,  damp  nooks.  The  holds  of  ships  are  also  very  much  infested  by 
these  and  several  other  species  which  have  become  almost  cosmopolitan  in 
their  distribution  by  means  of  commerce.  If  these  few  species  of  com- 
paratively small  cockroaches  are  such  a  nuisance  to  housekeepers  in  the 
temperate  regions  of  the  earth,  what  must  be  true  of  the  many  species 
that  swarm  in  the  tropics?    In  ^hose  countries  these  insects  are  much 


Fig.  31— The  German  Cockroach,  Ectobia  germanlca.—lAtter  Rlley.] 
larger,  and  are  to  be  found  everywhere  both  indoors  and  out.    Some  of 
the  species  are  two  inches  or  more  in  length,  and  half  as  wide.     More  than 
five  hundred  distinct  species  have  been  described  by  entomologists. 


32  A  PRELIMINAEY  INTBODUCTION 

'As  above  stated,  these  insects  are  flat-bodied,  swift  running  creatures, 
with  the  head  nearly  or  quite  hidden  beneath  the  front  edge  of  the  large, 
shield-like  pronotum.  The  head  is  so  bent  backwards  as  to  be  nearly- 
horizontal,  with  the  mouth  parts  to  the  rear.  The  antennae  are  long  and 
thread-like,  and  the  apex  of  the  abdomen  terminates  with  a  pair  of  jointed 
appendages  called  cerci. 

A  very  curious  fact  in  connection  with  the  life-history  of  cockroaches 
is  that  the  female  lays  all  her  eggs  at  once,  they  being  enclosed  in  a  purse- 
like pod  one  of  which  is  shown  in  figure  31  at  g.  This  pod  or  "  odtheca  " 
as  it  is  called,  varies  somewhat  in  form  for  the  different 'genera  and 
species,  but  is  sufliciently  characteristic  of  each  to  be  used  in  the  classifi- 
cation of  the  insects  themselves.  These  egg-pods  are  double,  i.  e.,  they 
contain  a  division  through  the  middle  separating  the  two  series  or  rows 
of  chambers  in  which  the  eggs  are  placed.  Most  species  carry  these  pods 
about  them  until  the  eggs  hatch,  when  the  empty  cases  are  dropped  upon 
the  ground  or  wherever  they  chance  to  fall  never  to 
be  used  again.  One  tropical  species  of  Cockroach 
{Panchlora  viridis)  that  is  of  a  beautiful  light  green 
color  has  been  known  to  give  birth  to  living  young. 
Whether  that  is  the  regular  method  of  reproduction 
with  the  species  is  not  known. 

In  many  of  these  creatures  we  find  the  two  sexes 
quite  different  in  appearance,  the  one  being  well 
equipped  for  flight  and  the  other  entirely  without 
wings  or  apterous.  In  others  the  wings  may  be  un- 
equally developed.  When  this  is  the  case,  the  male 
is  the  one  that  has  the  complete  wings. 

The  one  shown  in  figure  31  is  called  the  German 
Cockroach  and  also  "  Croton-bug."  It  is  by  far  the  most 
common  species  in  cities  and  towns  in  the  United 

„..„_,      ^       .    States.     It  has  been  introduced  from  Europe,  as  has 
Fia.-ii.—Perplaneta  on-      .       ..  ,•   i,  •       i.  •     xi.     -n      i.     i.-  i. -n- 

ezjtaT/s.— [Flint,]  also  the  One  which  is  shown  m  the  illustration  at  Fig. 

32.    This  latter  insect  is  sometimes  called  the  Oriental  Cockroach  as  well 

as  "Black  Beetle."      The  figure  represents  the  male  insect,  the  female 

having  much  shorter  wings. 

Quite  a  number  of  species  of  cockroaches  occur  within  the  limits  of 

the  United  States,  where  most  of  them  are  confined  to  the  fields,  woods, 

and  swampy  regions. 

Family  2.  Mantid-e.— (i2ear-7iorse«.  Preying  Insects,  etc.) 
Among  the  Orthoptera  we  find  a  group  of  very  interesting  insects 
that  have  been  separated  from  all  others  and  placed  in  a  family  them- 
selves under  the  name  Mantid^e.  These  insects  are  characterized  by 
their  triangular  heads,  the  very  long  prothorax,  and  the  peculiar  struc- 
ture of  the  front  pair  of  legs  which  is  very  strong  and  constructed  for 
grasping  and  holding  fast  other  insects  upon  which  the  Mantids  feed. 
Their  wings,  too,  are  quite  frequently  imitative  in  their  structure  and 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  33 

appearance,  resembling  leaves  of  plants  of  different  kinds.  Their  bodies 
are  long  and  stick-like,  or  broad  and  more  or  less  flattened.  This  struc- 
ture, along  with  their  brown  and  green  colors,  it  is  needless  to  state,  is  a 
protection  to  them  by  causing  them  to  be  mistaken  for  parts  of  the  plants 


-The  Carolina  Mantle,  female.— [Riley.] 


Fio.  Zi.—Stagmomantis  Minor.  Fio.  35.— Eggs  of  Carolina  Man- 

— [Original.]  tis.— [After  Riley.] 

upon  which  they  may  be  resting.  Unlike  the  members  of  the  preceding 
family,  which  are  very  active,  the  Mantidse  are  slow  in  their  motions  and 
have  the  habit  of  waiting  for  their  prey  to  come  within  reach.  The  posi- 
tion assumed  by  these  insects  while  waiting  for  their  prey  is  shown  in 
Fig.  33.  Like  the  Blattidae,  the  female  Mantis  lays  her  eggs  in  clusters 
which  are  attached  to  twigs,  stone  walls,  and  the  bark  of  trees.  (See 
Fig.  35.) 

The  development  of  these  creatures  is  direct,  i.  e.,  there  is  no  quiet 
pupa  stage  intervening  between  the  larva  and  imago.  These  insects  are 
also  much  more  abundant  both  in  individuals  and  species  in  tropical 
countries  than  they  are  elsewhere.  Over  five  hundred  distinct  species  of 
them  have  been  described  for  the  entire  world. 

Family  3.    FbxsiiIIdm.— (Walking-sticks,  Leaf-insects,  Spectres,  etc.) 
Perhaps  the  oddest  and  most  grotesque  of  all  insects  are  the  "  Walk- 
ing-sticks" or  "Leaf  Insects"  among  the  Orthoptera.     As  the  popular 
names  signify,  these  creatures  resemble  sticks  and  leaves;  and,  since  they 


34 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


frequent  plants,  these  resemblances  are  very  useful  to  them  as  a  means 
of  affording  protection  from  birds,  reptiles,  and  like  predaceous  animals. 

These  insects  are 
long  and  linear,  with 
long  ic^s  and  an- 
tennae. The  three 
pairs  of  legs  are  very 
similar  in  form,  and 
the  wings  when  pres- 
ent are  either  folded 
longitudinally  upon 
the  body  or  they  are 
broad  and  leaf-like. 
With  them  the  front 
pair  is  very  small, 
and  hence  the  front 
edge  of  the  hind  pair 
is  transformed  so  as 
to  afford  the  neces- 
sary protection  for 
the  more  delicate 
hind  portion.  While 
the  family  is  chiefly  a 
tropical  one,  a  few  of 
the  species  occur 
within  the  more  tem- 
perate regions.  In 
Nebraska  four  or  five 
distinct  forms  are  oc- 
casionally met  with. 
The  one  figured  here- 
with (Fig.  36)  is  known 
as  Diajjheromera  fe- 
viorata,  and  some- 
times becomes  suffi- 
ciently numerous  to 
cause  much  destruc- 
tion to  forest  trees. 
Other  species  of  the 
same  genus  occur 
upon  the  prairies. 

The  eggs  of  the 
Phasmidse,  or  '■'■  Sx)ec- 
tres "  as  the  family 
name  signifies,  are 
laid  singly,  and  allowed  by  the  female  to  fall  upon  the  ground  at  random, 
where  they  lie  until  the  following  spring.  These  are  hard  and  of  the 
form  shown  in  the  illustration  at  a  and  b. 


Fig.  Z&.—Diapherowera  feworata:  i 
young;  t/,  male;  e,  female  insect.- 


,  b,  the  eKR;  c.  eg^s  and 
-(.\fter  liiley.) 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


35 


One  of  these  insects  in  parts  of  Texas  and  Indian  Territory  has  re- 
ceived the  popular  name  of  "  Mule  Killer  "  through  some  superstitious 
notion  for  which  I  am  unable  to  account. 

Family  4.    Agribiibm.— [Locusts  or  Short-Jiorned  Grasshoppers.) 

The  representatives  of  this  family  of  the  order  Orthoptera  are  perhaps 
by  far  the  most  important  of  all  insects  if  we  look  at  them  from  the  side 
of  the  agriculturist.  They  are  also  of  interest  to  us  for  other  reasons. 
The  exact  meaning  of  the  word  "locust"  is  very  vaguely  impressed  upon 
the  minds  of  the  general  reader,  since  but  few  persons  seem  to  know  de- 
finitely what  insect  is  meant  by  it.  Even  the  earlier  naturalists  were 
more  or  less  confused  in  the  matter,  since  the  family  name  Locustidse 
has  been  given  to  the  long-horned  grasshoppers  instead  of  to  the  short- 
horned  ones  or  the  "locusts"  of  scriptural  times,  as  it  should  have  prop- 
erly been  done,  in  order  to  remove  the  confusion  that  exists. 

In  a  recent  report  to  the  United  States  entomologist,  the  writer  made 
a  statement  that  "If  one  were  to  describe  or  even  mention  all  of  the  lo- 
custs that  are  injurious  to  vegetation  in  this  country  every  species  would 
have  to  be  included  in  such  a  list.  Taken  as  a  group  there  are  no  excepr 
tions  to  the  rule  in  this  particular  case.  Every  member  of  the  family  is 
a  vegetable  feeder,  hence  is  to  be  considered  as  harmful  from  the  agricul- 
tural standpoint.        *        *        * 


Fig.  37.— Melanoplua  apretus,  laying  eggs.— [After  Riley].        Fio.  38.— Young  locust  just  be- 
fore hatching.— [After  Uiley]. 

"Every  warm  or  temperate  country  of  any  extent  of  which  a  con.sider- 
able  portion  is  arid  or  semidesert,  or  where  the  climate  is  liable  to  varia- 
tion, has  its  locust  swarms.  Of  all  insect  pests  these  swarms  of  locus!s 
are  generally  most  dreaded,  because  of  their  manner  of  attack,  and  the 
rapidity  with  which  they  can  and  do  lay  waste  a  country  or  district. 
Other  insect  enemies  may  do  an  equal  amount  of  injury  during  the  year  • 
but,  as  it  is  not  done  '  right  before  our  very  eyes,'  we  do  not  think  so 
much  of  it. 


36 


A  PBELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


"  These  destructive  locusts  may  be  divided  into  two  classes  with  respect 
to  their  habits,  viz.,  thoy  are  either  migratory  or  they  are  non-migratory. 
When  the  former,  they  move  about  over  the  country  from  ono  region  to 
another  and  drop  upon  us  without  much  warning.  When  the  latter,  they 
simply  multiply,  do  their  injury,  and  remain  where  they  are." 

While  the  family  is  divided  into  a  number  (nine)  of  subfamilies,  the 
most  important  of  them  belong  to  four  such  subfamilies  here  in  the 
United  States,  Tettigince,  Tryxalince,  Oedipodince,  and  Acridiince.  The 
members  of  the  Tettiginae  are  small  insects  that  are  readily  distinguish- 
able from  the  others  by  having  the  pronotum  extending  backwards  so  as 
to  cover  the  entire  body ;  and  the  tegmina  are  greatly  abbreviated  and  in 
the  form  of  little  lobes  at  the  side  of  the  body.  These  little  locusts  also 
differ  from  the  other  locusts  in  the  cushions  of  the  feet  being  entirely 
absent.  The  members  of  the  Oedipodinae  are  recognizable  by  their  colored 
hind  wings,  the  unarmed  prosterum  of  the  thorax,  and  in  having  the 
cushions  between  the  claws  of  the  feet  very  small.  The  Tryxalinae  can 
be  distinguished  by  having  their  head  advanced   forward   at  the  apex 


Fio.  39.— Kocky    Mountain  Locust— dif- 
ferent stases  of  young.— [After  Itiley]. 


Fig.    40. — Steuobothoua    macuUpen- 
D7S.— [After  Kiley]. 


Fio.  41.-Rocky  Mountain  Locust,  Illustrating  molt  of  the  pupa.-[After  Riley]. 

somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  cone.  They  also  possess  other  characters  that 
will  be  learned  by  reference  to  some  of  the  special  publications  devoted 
to  these  insects.  On  the  other  hand  the  Acridiinae  are  characterized  by 
the  strong  spine  upon  the  breast  between  the  front  pair  of  legs,  the  large 
cushions  between  the  claws  of  the  feet,  etc. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  37 

The  operation  of  egg-laying  as  performed  by  these  insects  is  illus- 
trated in  Fig.  37,  where  several  Rocky  Mountain  or  migratory  locusts  are 
exhibited  as  they  appear  when  engaged  in  this  necessary  feature  in  their 
life  cycle.  At  Fig.  38  is  shown  the  developed  embryo  just  before  it 
hatches.  The  various  stages  of  growth  in  the  young  of  this  same  species 
can  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  illustration  at  39.  The  life-history  of 
this  locust  is  practically  the  same  as  that  of  all  others  of  our  locusts. 
Although  this  life-history  has  been  but  very  briefly  given  here,  it  need 
not  be  entered  into  more  fully  at  present.  Usually  but  a  single  genera- 
tion of  locusts  is  raised  each  year— some  of  the  species,  however,  appear- 
ing at  .different  seasons  of  the  year.  Occasionally  it  is  seen  that  this 
rule  is  forsaken  and  two  generations  are  hatched  and  grow  to  maturity,- 


Fio.  ii.—Hippicns  discoideus,  female.— [After  Riley],  Fio.  ii.—Tettigidoa  late  ralii 

Some  typical  species  belonging  to  the  several  subfamilies  of  our 
locusts  are  shown  in  Figs.  37  to  48.  These  represent  some  of  our  com- 
mon Nebraska  species.  The  Tettigidea  lateralis,  Say,  which  is  shown  in 
Fig.  43,  is  a  very  fair  example  of  what  are  termed  "  Grouse  locusts," 
These  small  'hoppers  usually  live  over  winter  in  the  mature  stage,  and 
are  found  in  sheltered  places  in  wooded  regions  and  along  the  margins 
of  streams  where  they  conceal  themselves  beneath  leaves,  dead  grasses, 
etc.  These  locusts  love  to  frequent  muddy  localities,  and  in  some  of  the 
tropical  forms  we  find  an  almost  aquatic  habit.  Several  hundreds  of 
these  peculiar  little  insects  have  l^een  described.  The  subfamily  Oedi- 
podinae  is  represented  by  three  distinct  species  which  are  shown  in  Figs.  42, 
44,  and  46.  CMmarocephala  viridifasciata,  DeG,,  is  one  of  our  earliest 
spring  locusts,  and  occurs  in  similarly  sheltered  localities  to  those  fre- 
quented by  the  "grouse  locusts,"  It  occurs  in  two  color  variations, 
brown  and  green.  It  lives  over  winter  in  the  larval  and  pupal  stages. 
The  large,  mottled  Hippisciis  discoideus.  which  is  figured  at  42,  is  also 
one  of  these  wintering  species.  At  Fig.  44  is  shown  the  insect  known  as 
the  Long-winged  Locust  of  the  plains  {Dissosteira  longipennis,  Thos.) 
which  a  few  years  ago  suddenly  appeared  as  a  destructive  species  in 
parts  of  Colorado,  western  Kansas,  and  northern  New  Mexico,  It  is 
rather  closely  related  to  our  common  "Dusty  Road  Locust'*  {Dissosteira 
Carolina,  Linn.),  which  is  common  over  the  entire  United  States,  and  has 
become  almost  a  part  of  the  childhood  days  of  every  one.  In  Fig.  45  is 
shown  one  of  the  very  characteristic  locusts  of  the  middle  and  western 
portions  of  this  state.  In  fact,  it  is  the  characteristic  species  for  the 
region  mentioned.    It  is  known  by  a  number  of  popular  names,  but  the 


38 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


most  appropriate  of  these  are  the  "Lubber  Grasshopper"  and  "Buffalo 
Grasshopper."    Scientifically  it  is  Brachystola  magna,  Girard.    This  in- 


Fio.  45.— Bracfijsto/a  magna. 
—[Alter  Riley.] 


Fia.  48.— Acrid/Dm  ft-ontaliB. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


39 


sect  exhibits  some  of  the  shrewdness  belonging  to  man  himself,  for  on 
hot,  sunshiny  days  these  lubber  'hoppers  seek  the  shade  where  they  ap- 
pear to  enjoy  themselves.  They  also  know  enough  to  shift  as  the  sun 
moves  around.  In  the  illustration  numbered  40  the  reader  will  find  de- 
picted one  of  the  Tryxalinae.  It  is  known  in  this  country  as  Stenobothrus 
raacuKpennis,  Scudd,,  but,  perhaps,  should  be  placed  in  the  genus  Or- 
phula  instead  of  Stenobothrus.  Lastly  two  additional  species  of  the 
subfamily  Acridiinae  are  shown  in  figures  47  and  48.  Both  of  these 
latter  insects  are  common  in  Nebraska. 


3.  50.— Angular  winged  Katydid— female  laying  egga. 
—[After  Riley.] 


Fio.  51.— EggB  of  Angu'^r 
winged  Katydid.— [After 
Riley.] 


Family  V.    L.30U3TId.e.— (£'a^7/c^^V7s,  Long-horned  Grasshopper, 
Stone-crickets,  etc.) 

The  members  of  this  family  differ  from  the  Locusts  or  "  Short-horned 
Grasshoppers  "  in  having  their  antennae  very  long  and  thread  like.  They 
also  differ  in  having  the  ovipositor  of  the  females  compressed  and  sword- 


40 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


shaped;  and  in  the  tarsi  being  four  instead  of  three-jointed.  In  the 
males  the  wing  covers  or  tegmina  are  provided  with  a  musical  apparatus 
which  is  located  near  their  base  so  that  when  these  are  closed  it  occupies 
a  position  just  back  of  the  pronotum.  The  tegmina  when  at  rest  are  held 
with  their  inner  sides  approximating. 

As  in  the  preceding  family,  this  one  is  also  subdivided  by  systematists 
into  a  number  (15)  subfamilies.  Of  these  the  first  to  be  mentioned  is  the 
Phaneropterince  which  is  made  up  of  the  true  katydids. 


Fio.  52.—Scudderia  p/sW77ata.— [Original.] 


F.G.  5S.—CyrtopbyllnB  concaruB.— [Al- 
ter Riley. 


Several  of  these  insects  are  shown  in 
Figs.  49  to  52.  This  is  a  very  extensive 
family  if  we  take  into  consideration  all 
the  varied  forms  that  occur  in  the  dif- 
ferent countries  on  the  globe.  The  an- 
gular-winged katydid  is  shown  in  Figs. 
49  and  50.  In  the  former  the  male  is 
shown  in  one  of  its  characteristic  posi- 
tions during  the  daytime,  while  the  fe- 
male is  shown  in  50  in  the  act  of  laying 
her  eggs  which,  as  will  be  seen,  are  glued 
to  a  twig  in  two  overlapping  rows.  This 
insect  is  more  of  a  southern  insect 
than  the  one  which  is  shown  as  Scud- 
deria  pifstillata,  Bruner,  and  which  is 
shown  in  Fig.  52.  The  one  figured  at  53 
belongs  to  a  different  subfamily  {Pseu- 
dophyllince)  from  the  other  katydids  that 
have  just  been  mentioned,  but  neverthe- 
less is  the  true  katydid  if  we  are  to  class 
them  by  the  noise  they  produce.  This 
last  mentioned  species  is  also  more 
abundant  at  the  south  than  here  in  Ne- 
braska, where  it  is  rather  a  rare  insect. 

The  Cone-headed  Grasshoppers,  one 
of  which  is  figured  at  54,  belong  to  the 
subfamily  ConocephalincB.  Many  of 
these  latter  are  the  characteristic  slen- 
der meadow  grasshoppers  so  familiar  to 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


41 


all  of  us.  The  one  which  is  figured  is  called  the  Conocephalus  crepitans, 
Scudd.  This  is  also  a  very  extensive  group  of  Orthoptera.  These  in- 
sects, feeding  in  company  as  they  do  the  summer  through,  commit  a  great 
deal  of  damage  to  our  meadows  and  even  to  fields  of  grain.     Many  of 

them  could  be  de- 
stroyed by  drag- 
ging  over  the 
meadow  once  or 
twice  during  the 
summer  with  the 
"hopper  dozer," 
described  in  con- 
nection with  the 
destructive      lo 

F.o.  54.-Cone.headed  Grasshopper.  ^^^^g  j^  ^^^  g^^. 

Mcultural  Report  for  1894. 

In  the  figure  55  is  shown  a  "wingless  cricket,"  of  the  subfamily 
Dccticince  of  authors.  This  group  contains  many  very  queer  looking 
creatures,  and  also  some  that  occasionally  increase  in  such  numbers  as 
to  become  pests.  Our  large  "Mormon  cricket,''  the  one  shown  in  the  il- 
lustration, is  an 
example  of  the 
latter  kind. 

Still  another 

subfamily       of 

^^^/f       (2:        "      ^  %»-«^    ^^®     Locustidce 

~^  "is  shown  by  the 

,p/ex.-[After  Riley .1  flg^j.,,  gg  ^j^j^j^ 

is  a  type  of  those  called  Stenopelviatince.  While  many  of  this  last  group 
are  provided  with  wings,  many  others  are  wingless  and  live  in  burrows  in 

the  ground,  under  stones,  in  dark, 
damp  places,  as  caverns,  etc. 
These  wingless  creatures  belong- 
ing here  are  sometimes  called 
"Camel-crickets"  on  account  of 
the  upward  curve  of  their  backs. 
They  also  frequently  receive  the 
-crickets." 


m"^^-^' 


Fig.  h^.—Anabrus 


Fio.  56.— Camel  Cricket.— [Flint.] 

names  of  "Stone-crickets"  and 


'Cav( 


Family  6.    Giayjaadm.— {Crickets.) 

The  last  family  of  the  order  Orthoptera,  like  the  two  preceding,  is 
quite  extensive,  and  is  composed  of  jumping  insects.  If  we  include  the 
four  quarters  of  the  globe  there  are  many  distinct  forms  and  even  sub- 
families of  these  insects;  but  if  we  confine  ourselves  to  the  United  States 
or  Nebraska  we  will  find  but  few  true  crickets  as  compared  with  either 
the  short  or  long-horned  grasshoppers. 


42 


A  PKELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


The  Grtllid^  are  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Locustidse,  which  they 
resemble  by  having  long  antennae,  by  their  three-jointed  tarsi,  in  the 
music  organs  of  the  males  which  occupy  the  greater  part  of  the  tegmina, 
also  in  their  food  habits  being  omnivorous  rather  than  herbivorous. 


FiQ.  57.— Mole  Cncket—GoyllotaJpa  vulgaris. 

Most  of  the  Gryllidse  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits,  hiding  away  in  the 
earth  or  dark  nooks  during  daytime  and  venturing  forth  only  after  night- 
fall to  seek  their  food  and  mates.  Some  of  them  always  live  hidden 
away  in  burrows  which  they  construct  for  themselves,  or  else  they  live  as 
guests  in  the  nests  of  ants.  One  of  these  latter  is^shown  in  Fig.  62.  The 
Mole-crickets  are  odd  looking  creatures  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  illustration  (see  Fig.  57).  Again  our  common  field  crickets  are  shown 
by  the  figure  of  a  female  of  Oryllus  abbreviatiis  which  has  the  tegmina 
and  wings  abbreviated  (Fig.  63).  The  Tree-crickets  differ  from  other 
crickets  in  their  mode  of  life.  While  field  crickets  and  their  allies,  most 
of  which  are  dull  brown,  or  black  in  color,  live  upon  and  in  the  grouna, 
tree-crickets,  as  their  name  implies,  live  above  ground  among  vegetation 
the  colors  of  which  these  more  or  less  closely  resemble.  Many  of  these 
latter  are  known  to  feed  upon  plant-lice,  hence  are  to  be  looked  upon  as 
our  friends.  On  the  other  hand  some  of  these  insects  deposit  their  eggs 
in  the  stems  of  plants  which  they  kill  unintentionally. 

Perhaps  the  habits  of  the  little  wingless  cricket  that  is  shown  in  Fig. 
62,  a,  representing  the  female  and  h,  the  male,  will  be  a  surprise  to  many 
when  they  learn  what  these  are.  Imagine  a  very  soft  bodied  creature  of 
only  the  length  and  width  shown  by  the  cross  lines  in  the  cut,  living  in 
the  nests  of  ants  larger  than  itself.  Yet  such  are  the  facts  in  connection 
with  this  insect's  life.  It  lives  in  the  "  thickest "  of  the  nest,  unmolested 
by  the  ants.  Just  what  its  food- habits  are,  and  why  it  is  here  entomolo- 
gists have  thus  far  failed  to  learn.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  these  '•  ant- 
nest-inhabiting"  crickets,  species  of  which  are  found  in  both  hemispheres. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


43 


y 


Fio.  58.— Snowy-win?eJ       Fia. 
Tree-cricket— male.  — 1 


-Snowy-winsed  Tree-cricket 
After   Harris]. 


Fio.  60.— Oroc/iarissa/tafor;  a,  female;  ft,  male.  [After  Riley].        Fio.    61.— Twip:    sliowinK 

ecRs   and   punctur.'H  of 
(Ecanthus.  [After  Kiley] 


+ 


Fio.  ^i.—Myrmecopbila  pergantfol.- [Original.] 


Fig.  63.— Field  Cricket. 


44 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


ORDER  VIII.  TRYSA'^OFT'ERA.— {Trips,  Fringe-wings.) 
Following  the  Orthoptera  in  the  series  of  orders  as  we  have  adopte.l 
the  classification,  we  come  to  a  number  of  vei-y  minute  insects  tliat  dif- 
fer greatly  from  all  others  in  the  structure  of  their  wings,  mouth-parts, 
and  feet.  The  wings  are  four  in  number  and  both  pairs  very  similar  in 
form,  being  long  and  narrow  and  either  veinless  or  with  but  few  veins. 
The  margins  of  the  wings  are  fringed  with  long,  delicate  hairs  as  seen  in 
the  illustration  Fig.  65;  and  when  at  rest  these  members  are  folded 
lengthwise  upon  the  body.  The  feet  (tarsi)  are  only  two-jointed  and  are 
inflated  or  "blown  up,"  hence  the  name  Physopoda  "bladder-foot"  which 
jc  sometimes  given  them  instead  of  Thysanoptera. 

All  the  members  of  the  order  are  quite  small — seldom  exceeding  a 
firth,  and  oftener  being  less  than  one-tenth,  of  an  inch  in  length.  Al- 
though so  small,  these  insects  are  not  at  all  rare;  on  the  contrary,  they 
are  very  common,  for  almost  every  clover,  apple,  rose,  daisy,  and  other 
blossom  contains  numbers  of  them.  When  disturbed  thrips  are  very 
active  and  readily  take  to  flight. 


Pio.  64.— GrasB  Thrips. 


Fio.  65.— Green-honse  Thrips.— [Original.] 


A  reference  to  the  illustrations  (Figs.  64  and  65)  will  at  once  indicate 
to  the  reader  the  appearance  of  these  little  creatures.  Their  body  is  long, 
and  the  head  narrower  than  the  prothorax  to  which  it  is  attached  with- 
out a  distinct  neck.  The  eyes  are  large  and  composed  of  comparatively 
few  distinct  ocelli;  and  there  are  usually  three  simple  eyes  upon  the  fore- 
head between  the  compound  eyes.  The  lower  part  of  the  head  is  some- 
what drawn  out  into  the  form  of  a  cone  or  beak  and  directed  backwards 
upon  the  prosternum.  Within  this  beak -like  projection  the  mouth-parts 
are  concealed  and  can  only  be  made  out  with  the  aid  of  a  rather  high- 
power  microscope.  This  arrangement  of  the  mouth  parts  reminds  us  not 
a  little  of  the  Thysanura,  and  has  been  the  cause  for  not  a  little  uncer- 
tainty among  naturalists  as  to  their  location  in  the  system  of  classification. 
Even  at  this  late  date  various  ideas  are  entertained  by  naturalists 
as  to  their  aflSnities  with  other  groups.    Their  active  larvae  with  similar 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  45 

formed  bodies  to  those  of  their  parents,  of  course,  at  once  suggests  their 
relationship  to  some  of  the  ametabola  series,  i.  e.,  those  in  which  there  is 
no  complete  transfoi  mation  in  their  growth  from  the  larva  to  imago. 
Among  these  forms  the  Thysanoptera  have  been  considered  at  various 
times  and  by  different  authors  as  belonging  with  the  Orthoptera,  the 
Neuroptera  (the  old  order  Neuroptera),  and  the  Hemiptera.  A.  careful 
study  of  their  mouth-parts  has  finally  resulted  in  their  being  placed  just 
before  the  Hemiptera,  as  possibly  representing  one  of  the  stages  in  the 
long  line  of  development  from  the  Thysanuran  type  to  that  of  the  Hem- 
ipteran  type  of  mouth-parts. 

In  their  food-habits  these  insects  differ  greatly.  Some  of  them  are 
carnivorous,  while  others  are  herbivorous.  The  carnivorous  forms  feed 
upon  mites,  eggs  of  other  insects,  etc.;  and  the  herbivorous  forms  attack 
the  parts  of  blossoms  and  often  occur  upon  delicate  and  juicy  plants  the 
leaves  of  which  they  injure  more  or  less  by  wounding  the  lower  surfaces 
and  causing  them  to  turn  brown  and  wither. 

The  order  has  been  but  comparatively  little  studied ;  and  our  best 
paper  upon  the  group  is  one  that  was  written  by  Haliday  over  fifty-six 
years  ago.  Only  about  one  dozen  species  have  thus  far  been  described 
from  this  country ;  and,  judging  from  number  of  species  now  in  collec- 
tions, it  is  likely  that  there  are  more  than  one  hundred  distinct  species 
in  the  United  States  alone.  For  a  further  study  of  the  interesting  little 
creatures  the  reader  is  referred  to  Comstock's  "Introduction  to  Ento- 
mology." 

ORDER  IX.     HEMIPTERA.— (Zwsecfs  with  sucking-mouths.) 

The  order  Hemiptera  is  composed  of  those  insects  which  are  properly 
called  "  bugs "  by  the  "  bug  man."  It  is  needless  to  say  here  that  not 
everything  small  that  creeps  and  that  is  commonly  called  by  this  name 
belongs  to  the  order.  Some  of  these  bugs  are  also  called  by  other  names, 
as  "plant-lice,"  "  leaf -hoppers,"  "tree-hoppers,"  "scale-insects,"  and 
"water-boatmen."  These  latter  are,  however,  group  names,  instead  of 
general  ones  applicable  to  all  the  members  of  the  order. 

This  order,  Hemiptera,  is  divided  into  three  well-marked  suborders, 
Heteropteba,  Parasitica,  and  Homoptera.  The  first  of  these  suborders 
contains  forms  in  which  the  two  pair  of  wings,  when  present,  are  unlike 
in  texture  ;  the  second  are  without  wings  and  comprise  the  sucking  lice 
of  man  and  mammals ;  and  the  third  have  the  two  pairs  of  wings  alike  in 
texture. 

The  order  is  one  of  great  extent  as  well  as  of  much  importance  from 
the  economic  standpoint.  The  food-habits  of  its  members  are  various — 
some  being  predaceous  and  others  vegetable  feeders.  Unlike  the  mem- 
bers of  the  previous  orders  which  have  been  described,  these  insects  live 
upon  liquid  food,  which  they  take  through  a  jointed,  tube-like  beak, 
which  is  composed  of  the  usual  mouth-parts  that  have  undergone  the 
necessary  change  to  form  this  tube.  Those  that  attack  plants  live  on 
sap,  those  that  attack  animals  feed  upon  the  life-blood.  Some  of  these 
Insects  are  directly  or   indirectly   of  great  value   commercially.      The 


4G  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

Cochineal  is  utilized  for  the  coloring  matter  which  it  produces  ;  some  of 
the  scale-insects  are  the  producers  of  lacs,  which  are  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  varnishes. 

The  various  members  of  this  order,  with  a  single  exception,  do  not 
possess  a  complete  metamorphosis,  but  they  develop  direct.  The  young 
when  they  hatch  from  the  eggs  are  very  similar  in  form  to  their  parents. 
There  is  no  quiet  pupa  stage  as  in  the  other  orders  that  will  be  taken  up 
one  after  the  other  bey  on  1  this  point  in  the  classification.  The  wing- 
pads  show  after  the  second  or  third  molt,  and  are  quite  large  before  the 
final  one  ;  but  tbey  are  not  inverted,  and  seemingly  transposed,  in  their 
position  as  they  appear  to  be  in  the  jumping  Orthoptera. 

SuBORDEK  Heteboptera. — (True  Bugs.) 

The  representatives  of  this  suborder  are  quite  readily  recognized  from 
other  insects  by  the  structure  of  their  front  pair  of  wings.  These  have 
the  basal  half  thickened  so  as  to  resemble  the  elytra  of  beetles,  the  re- 
maining portion  being  membranous  or  wing-like.  These  front  "half- 
wings"  cover  and  protect  the  second  pair  which  is  entirely  membranous. 
The  name  "  hemelytra  "  has  been  given  the  front  wings  of  Heteropterous 
Hemiptera,  it  meaning  half  elytra.  In  addition  to  their  peculiar  wing 
structure,  most  of  these  insects  are  provided  with  glands  for  the  secretion 
of  pungent  or  offensive  odors  that  protect  them  more  or  less  completely 
from  the  attacks  of  most  birds  and  insectivorous  mammals. 

Among  the  representatives  of  the  sub- 
order we  find  those  that  are  aquatic,  as 
well  as  those  that  are  terrestrial.  In  Fig. 
G6  is  shown  one  of  the  insects  that  are 
commonly  called  "water-boatmen." 
These  Notonectid^,  or  back-swimmers, 
as  the  name  signifies,  are  very  common 

insects  that  occur  in  all  waters  and  at 

Fig.  G6.— Water  BoatmaD.— [After  C.  M.     „  ..  „  ,,      _  „! ;i. 

Weed.]  all  times  of  the  year.     There  are  quite  a 

number  of  species  and  several  genera  of  them  in  this  state.  They  feed 
upon  the  blood  of  very  young  fishes,  snails,  crustaceans,  and  insects. 
Unlike  the  different  representatives  of  such  other  orders  as  are  provided 
in  their  larval  stages  with  gill-like  attachments,  these  water-boatman 
must  frequently  come  to  the  surface  for  air.  Another  species  of  water 
bug  is  figured  herewith  (Fig.  G7).  It  is  known  variously  as  the  "Giant 
Water-bug,"  the  "  Electric-light  bug,"  etc.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  repre- 
sentatives of  the  order  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  is  very  destruct- 
ive to  minnows  and  young-  fishes  of  other  kinds  which  it  captures  and 
holds  fast  while  sucking  their  blood.  This  and  most  of  our  other  repre- 
sentatives of  the  order  are  capable  of  inflicting  very  painful  wounds  by 
means  of  their  short,  sharp  beak.  When  they  do  this  they  at  the  same 
time  inject  a  whitish  fluid  that  produces  numbness  and  fever. 


TO  THE  (STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  47 

After  uight,  both  in  spring  and  fall,  these  water  bugs  leave  the  wa'.er 
and  fly  about  in  search  of  new  waters,  and  possibly,  also,  of  mates,  be- 
fore laying  eggs  for  another  generation.  At  such  times  many  of  them 
are  attracted  to  lights,  where  they  become  dazed  and  die.  Since  the  ad 
vent  of  electric  lights  especially  has  this  been  true  of  them,  and  conse- 
quently many  formerly  rare  forms  to  collections  have  become  commou- 
place,  the  entomologists  having  taken  advantage  of  this  method  for 
viirichiug  their  cabinets. 


Fio.  68.— Zaitha— [After 
C.  M.  Weed.] 


Kio    G7.—BeI()stoma,    Americana.— [Mter    C. 
M.  Weed]. 

A  number  of  moderately  large,  rather  slender,  dark  brown,  dull-black, 
and. other  colored  bugs  that  feed  upon  caterpillars  and  other  soft-bodied 
insects  are  found  in  most  parts  of  our  country.  These  are  represented 
by  the  species  shown  in  Fig.  G9.  They  belong  to  a  family  which  ento- 
mologists call  Reduviid^  ;  while  in  Pig.  70  we  see  another  type  of  a 
family  called  PuYMAxiDiE.  This  last  mentioned  bug  often  makes  its  home 
upon  flowers  of  different  kinds  where  its  yellow,  green,  white,  and  black 
colors  assist  it  in  sneaking  upon  and  seizing  various  insects  which  it  kills. 
It  is  said  to  be  quite  a  caterpillar  destroyer. 

The  Squash-bug,  which  everybody  is  familiar  with,  but  of  which  we  have 
no  figure  to  present,  belongs  to  the  family  CoREioiE.  The  insects  shown 
herewith,  in  Figs.  73  and  74,  are  also  quite  familiar  to  most  of  us  who 
have  eaten  berries  under  the  name  of  "  stink-bugs."  They  belong  to  the 
family  Pentatomid^.  Both  of  the  insects  which  are  figured  here  are 
known  to  destroy  the  young  of  the  Colorado  Potato  beetle  and  many- 
other  insects.  Some  species  of  the  family  do  not,  however,  destroy  in- 
sects, but  live  upon  the  juices  of  various  plants  instead. 


48 


A  PltELIMINAKY  INTRODUCTION 


Fig.  70.— Pbywateus  erosa;  a,  dorsal  view; 
b,  side  view;  rf,  beak;  c,  front  leg.  All 
enlarged.— [After  Kiley.] 


FiQ.  69.— iVabis  /asca.— [Original.]  Fio.  71.— a  and  ft.  Two  true  bugs.— [Aiter 

RUey.] 


Fio.  72.-  Euthoctha 
galeator. — [linb- 
bard.] 


3.— Young  of  Podl- 
spinosna. 


Fio.  li.—PodiBUB 
spinosns. 


Fio.  75.—PerUus 
clandns. 


A  number  of  other  families  of  Heteroptera  are  represented  within  the 
state.  Of  these  a  few  are  such  as  CAPSiDiE,  Tingidje,  etc.  One  of  the 
Capsidge  is  shown  in  Fig.  76.  It  is  the  insect  that  is  known  as  the  Four- 
ined  Leaf-bug  {Poecilocapsus  lineatus).  TheChinch-bug  and  various 
'false'chinch-bugs  "  belong  to  the  family  Jj^qmidm.  Two  of  the  latter  ar^ 
shown  in  Figs  78  and  79. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


49 


It  would  be  slighting  one  of  our  old  acquaintances  too  much  were  we 
to  pass  without  notice  the  representative  of  this  suborder  that  is  shown 
in  Fig.  77.    Everybody  will  at  once  recognize  the  likeness  at  first  glance, 


Fig.  75.—Poecl/ocapana  linea-  Fio.  77.- 

tua,  enlarged.— [After  Lint- 
ner]. 


-Bed-bugs;  a,  larva;  b,  imago,— [After  Rlley]. 


Fio.  7%.—Tr&pezonotas  nebtr 
/osQS.— [Original]. 


Fio.   79  —Embletbis  arenarius.— [Orig- 
inal] . 


hence  it  would  hardly  be  necessary  to  say  it  is  the  insect  known  by  the 
name  Bed-bug.  As  old,  perhaps,  as  man  himself  in  its  love  for  human 
habitations,  this  insect  has  spread  over  the  greater  part  of  the  civilized 
world.  It  occasionally  also  takes  up  its  abode  in  hen  houses  and  the 
rookeries  of  birds  where  it  obtains  nourishment  in  the  form  of  blood. 
Not  all  of  the  reported  cases  of  bed-bugs  having  been  found  in  new  lum- 
ber, and  even  in  logs  before  they  had  been  sawed  into  lumber,  should  be 
accepted  as  truth.  Many  of  these  so-called  bed-bugs  are,  no  doubt,  the 
young  cock-roaches  shown  in  Fig.  31,  at  6. 


50 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


SUBORDER  PARASITICA.— (Sucking  Lice). 

The  "sucking  lice,"  as  distinguished  from  the  "biting  lice,"  are  so 
greatly  different  in  thoir  habits  and  appearances  from  the  other  Hemip- 
terous  insects  that  they  have  been  separated  from  them  as  a  distinct 
group.  While  not  nearly  so  numerous  in  species  as  the  Mallophagidse, 
there  are  many  kinds  of  these  disgusting  creatures.  Man  is  subject  to 
the  attacks  of  at  least  three  distinct  forms,  viz.,  the  "head-louse" 
(Pediculus  capitis),  Fig.  80,  the  "body-louse"  (Pediculus  vestimenti),  Fig. 
81,  and  the  "crab-louse"  {Phthirius  inguinalis),  Fig.  82.  The  sucking 
lice  of  cattle,  horses,  swine,  dogs,  cats,  squirrels,  etc.,  some  of  which  are 
shown  herewith,  Figs.  83-85,  belong  to  other  genera. 


KiQ.  80.— Head-louse.  Fio.  81.— Body-louse. 


Fiq.  82.— Crab-louse. 


Fig.  83  — Short-uozed  O.k -louse  Uaematopinvs  eurysternna  :  a  fu'ina^e,  b  rostrnm,  c  ventral 
surface  of  last  sefinients  of  uiale,  cl  do,  female,  e  ej?>r,  f  surface  of  egg  greatly  eularged. — 
[After  Osborii]. 

Remedies.— Various  remedies  have  been  suggested  and  used  with  suc- 
cess against  these  lice.  Some  form  of  grease  if  so  placed  as  to  come  in 
contact  with  them  will  kill  most  kinds  of  lice.  An  ointment,  therefore, 
composed  of  vaseline,  lard,  etc.,  when  smeared  upon  the  bodies  of  cattle 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


51 


and  other  domestic  animals  will  usually  rid  them  of  their  lice.  A  much 
more  expeditious  remedy,  discovered  in  recent  years,  is  the  kerosene 
emulsion  which  has  been  so  often  recommended  for  the  destruction  of  all 
kinds  of  lice  and  sucking  insects.  This  wash  can  either  be  applied  in  the 
form  of  a  spray  by  means  of  a  force-pump,  or  it  can  be  used  as  a  dip. 


[P^ 


Fig.  84. — f-ouse  of  the  fieh]  mouae 
{Hsematopinusacantbopus)—\_After 
Osborn]. 


Fir.  S5.— Sucking  louse  of  the  rocket  Gopher 
(Hwmatopinus  sqaamosvs):  1,  portion  of 
abdomen  showing  scales.— [After  Osborn]. 


The  remedy  kills  by  contact,  i.  e.,  the  breathing  holes  or  stomota  of  the 
insects  are  choked  up  and  they  die  of  suffocation.  Strong  decoctions  of 
tobacco  are  also  sometimes  used  with  like  results;  while  fresh  insect 
powder,  which  is  made  from  the  pulverized  flower-heads  and  stems  of 
several  species  of  plants  belonging  to  the  genus  Pyrethrum,  will  also  kill 
these  lice  if  sprinkled  freely  over  the  animals  to  be  protected  from  them. 

SUBORDER    UOMOPTERA.— {Tree-hoppers,  Cicadas,  Plant-lice,    Scale 
Insects,  etc.) 

The  representatives  of  this  suborder  of  the  Hemiptera,  while  varying 
greatly  among  themselves  in  habits,  structure,  and  modes  of  develop- 
ment, form  a  rather  well-marked  group.  In  fact,  these  insects  seem  to  be 
so  well  marked  and  distinct  from  the  Heteroptera  that  some  entomolo- 
gists make  a  distinct  order  of  them.  Their  wings  are  of  the  same  thick- 
ness throughout,  and  when  folded  usually  rest  roof-like  over  the  body. 
The  beak  and  mouth-parts  are  attached  at  the  hind  part  of  the  lower 
side  of  the  head.  Sometimes  it  is  so  far  to  the  rear  that  it  appears  to 
arise  from  the  sternum  of  the  prothorax,  instead  of  from  the  head. 
There  is  no  prolongation  of  the  back  portion  of  the  head  into  a  neck,  and 
the  front  coxae  or  basal  joints  of  the  first  pair  of  legs  sometimes  touch 
the  cheeks. 

The  suborder  is  divided  into  ten  or  a  dozen  families,  nearly  all  of 
which  are  of  sufficient  economic  importance  to  call  for  a  much  more  ox- 
tended  account  than  can  be  given  here.     Some  of  the  most  interesting 


52 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


features  belonging  to  the  subject  of  entomology  are  also  found  in  con- 
nection with  the  life-histories  and  development  of  some  of  these  insects. 
Family  Coocidm.— {Scale-insects,  Bark-lice,  Mealy-bugs,  etc.) 

The  insects  which  have  been  separated  from  other  Homoptera  and 
placed  in  the  family  now  under  consideration,  are  very  peculiar  creatures 
indeed.  In  writing  of  them  Professor  J.  H.  Comstock,  who  has  made  a 
special  study  of  the  family,  says:  "In  many  respects  this  is  a  very  anom- 
alous group,  the  species  differing  greatly  in  appearance,  habits,  and  meta 
morphosis  from  those  of  the  most  closely  allied  families.  Not  only  do  the 
members  of  this  family  appear  very  unlike  other  insects,  but  there  is  a 
wonderful  variety  of  forms  within  the  family;  and  even  the  two  sexes  of 
the  same  species  differ  as  much  in  the  adult  state  as  members  of  distinct 
orders." 

The  males  of  these  insects  alone  are  provided  with  wings  and  undergo 
a  complete  metamorphosis.  The  wings  are  limited  to  a  single  pair— the 
front  ones.  In  place  of  the  hind  wings  we  find  small  club-like  "halters," 
each  of  which  is  provided  with  a  hooked  bristle  that  joins  it  with  the 
wing  on  the  same  side  of  the  body.  In  this  sex  the  mouth-parts  have  dis- 
appeared and  their  place  taken  by  a  second  pair  of  eyes.  The  females 
are  always  "scale-like  or  gall-like  in  form,  or  grub-like  and  clothed  with 
wax."  This  waxy  covering  varies  greatly  in  different  forms.  It  may  be 
in  the  form  of  powder,  thread-like  filaments,  large  tufts  or  plates,  Or  it 


^'^V^Ir'^S'^''?*  ''^''^'-        ^"'-  ^--Dactylopias  destructor.   Fio.  fiS.-Dactj'Ioplns  loBgiWis. 
-[After  Packard.]  -[After  Comstock.]  -[After  Comstock  ] 

may  comprise  a  continuous  layer  or  scale  under  which  the  insect  lives  a 
more  or  less  protected  life.  Many  of  them  are  serious  pests  to  cultivated 
plants,  and  have  become  spread  over  much  of  the  civilized  world  by 
means  of  commerce.  Most  of  our  fruit  trees  are  subject  to  the  attacks 
of  one  or  more  species,  and  numbers  of  forms  occur  in  every  green-house 
of  any  size  where  they  have  been  introduced  by  shipments  of  plants 
from  different  countries. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


53 


Fio.  S^.—Ortbesia,  enlarged.- 
[After  Comstock.] 


There  are  also  a  number  or  species  of 
this  family  that  might  be  termed  "  useful 
insects  "  on  account  of  the  uses  to  which 
they  are  put  by  man  in  the  arts.  Several 
species  produce  dye-stuffs.  One  of  these 
is  known  as  Coccus  cacti,  and  is  shown  in 
Fig.  86.  Its  dried  bodies  are  called 
Cochineal,  and  can  be  purchased  in  al- 
most any  drug  store.  This  insect  lives 
in  tropical  countries  where  it  feeds  on 
the  various  species  of  cactus  called  Prick- 
ley-pear.  Another  species  secretes  the 
substance  that  is  used  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  shellac.  It  is  called  Carteria 
lacca  by  the  entomologist.  It  also  is  a 
native  of  tropical  countries  where  it 
clusters  upon  the  young  branches  of  sev- 


Fta.  90.— femes  ep.    Adnit  femaleB  on  etem;  Immatare  males  on  leaTes.— [After  Comstock.] 


54^ 


A  PRELIMINARY   INTRODUCTION 


eral  kinds  of  trees.    Others  of  these  coccids  produce  different  kinds  of 
wax  in  quantities  that  render  them  of  economic  value. 

The  "  Mealy-bugs,"  two  of  which  are  shown  in  Figs.  87  and  88,  are  too 
well  known  to  require  a  description  at  this  time.  They  are  green- 
house pests  at  the  north,  but  in  tropical  regions  occur  out-of-doors.  The 
insect  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  89  also  belongs  in  this  family,  and  may 
quite  frequently  be  obtained  in  the  spring  by  sifting  over  fallen  leaves 
in  open  woods.  The  white  plates  or  tufts  upon  this  insect's  body  are 
lime-like  Perhaps  the  different  species  of  Kermes  as  found  on  our 
various  oaks  are  the  most  abnormal  of  all  these  bark-lice  that  we  have  in 
this  country.  In  figure  90  the  large  gall-like  females  are  shown  attached 
to  the  twigs  and  the  immature  males  on  the  leaves. 

The  Pulvinaria  innumerdbilis,  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  91,  is  the  insect 
commonly  known  as  the  Cottony  Maple-scale,  although  it  is  by  no  means 
confined  to  the  maple  tree  as  a  food-plant.  It  also  attacks  many  other 
trees  and  shrubs,  all  of  which  are  at  times  more  or  less  severely  injured 
by  it.  The  life-history  of  this  scale  insect  is  practically  the  same  as  that 
of  other  species  of  coccids,  and  can  be  best  given  in  the  following  words, 
which  are  quoted  from  the  Annual  Report  of  the  U.  S.  Entomologist  for 
year  1884: 

"The  young  lice  hatch  in  spring  or  early  summer,  walk  about  actively 
as  soon  as  born,  and  settle  along  the  ribs  of  the  leaves  (very  rarely  on  the 
young  twigs).  They  then  insert  their  beaks  and  begin  to  pump  up  the 
sap  and  to  increase  in  size,  a  thin  layer  of  a  waxy 
secretion  immediately  beginning  to  cover  the  dorsum. 
In  a  little  more  than  three  weeks  they  have  increased 
to  double  their  size  at  birth,  and  undergo  their  first 
molt,  shedding  the  skin,  it  is  supposed,  in  small  frag- 
ments. After  this  first  molt  the  waxy  secretion  in- 
creases in  abundance,  and  a  differentiation  between 
the  sexes  is  observable.  The  males  grow  more  slen- 
der and  soon  cease  to  increase  in  size,  covering  them- 
selves with  a  thick  coating  of  whitish  wax.  The  pupa 
then  begins  to  form  within  the  larval  skin,  the  ap 
pendages  gradually  taking  shape,  the  head  separat- 
ing from  the  thorax,  the  mouth-parts  being  replaced 
by  a  pair  of  ventral  eyes.  A  pair  of  long  wax  fila- 
ments is  excreted  from  near  the  anus,  and  these  con- 
tinue to  grow  during  the  life  of  the  insect.  It  is  thu 
protrusion  of  these  filaments  from  beneath  the  waxy 
scale  which  indicates  the  approaching  exclusion  of 
the  male.  The  posterior  end  of  the  scale  is  in  this 
manner  raised  up,  and  the  perfect  insect  backs  out 
with  its  wings  held  close  to  the  sides  of  its  body. 

"  Meanwhile  the  female  larvae  have  been  under- 
going but  slight  changes  of  form.  They  grow  larger 
and  also  broader  across  the  posterior  portion,  but  re- 
main flat.     *    *    *     Just  before  the  appearance  of 


^IG.  91— The  Cottony 
Mnple  Scale  (Pulvi- 
naria innu  m  era  h  His ) : 
the  mature  (einales 
after  the  epRS  huvo 
been  depositod. — [Af- 
ter Comstock.] 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  55 

the  adult  males,  they  uadergo  another  molt,  and  change  in  color  from  a 
uuiform  pale  yellow  to  a  somewhat  deeper  yellow  with  deep  red  markings. 
"The  males  make  their  appearance  from  August  1st  to  September  15th, 
issuing  most  abundantly  about  the  middle  of  the  former  month,  and  their 
life  is  short,  seldom  exceeding  two  or  three  days.  They  copulate  with 
the  females  and  then  die.  The  latter,  soon  after  the  disappearance  of  the 
males,  gradually  lose  their  bright-red  markings  and  change  to  a  deep 
brown  color.  They  grow  more  convex,  and  the  dorsal  layer  of  wax  be- 
comes thicker  and  more  cracked.  Before  the  falling  of  the  leaves  they 
migrate  to  the  twigs  and  there  fix  themselves,  generally  on  the  under 
side.  After  feeding  as  long  as  the  sap  flows,  they  become  torpid  and  re- 
main in  this  condition  until  spring. 

"  At  the  opening  of  spring  the  eggs  develop  with  great  rapidity  and 
distend  the  body  greatly,  causing  it  to  become  convex  instead  of  flat. 
The  color  is  now  yellowish,  marked  with  dark  brown,  and  the  insect  now 
absorbs  sap  with  great  rapidity  and  ejects  drops  of  honey-dew.  Prom  the 
middle  of  May  to  the  first  of  June  the  egg-laying  commences.  The  eggs 
are  deposited  at  the  end  of  the  body,  in  a  nest  of  waxen  fibers  secreted 
from  pores  situated  around  the  anus.  This  nest  is  attached  to  the  pos- 
terior ventral  portion  of  the  body,  and  adheres 
§  somewhat  to  the  twig.  As  the  eggs  are  protruded 
into  the  waxy  mass  the  posterior  portion  of  the 
body  is  gradually  raised  up  until  it  often  reaches 
5  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees  with  the  bark.  The 
F.a.  92.-Pariatoria  per-  ^gg-laying  continues  until  on  into  July,  and,  aftei 
gfindei:   a.   female;    b.  one  or  two  thousand  eggs  have  been  deposited  the 

male  scMle.— [After  Com-    ,  i      j-  ta  •        i  l     i  -i-,  ■      ,-,  ■  .     , 

Btock]  female  dies.     It  is  almost  always  within  this  period 

of  egg -laying  that  the  insect  is  noticed,  on  account 

of  its  large  size,  but  more   particularly  from  the 

conspicuous  white  cushion  at  the  end  of  its  body. 

After  the  death  of  the  female,  her  beak  breaks  off 

and  her  body  shrivels  up,  but  remains  attached  to 

the  twig  by  the  cottony  mass  for  a  long  time,  often 

a  year  or  more."  ''lo-  ss.—Mftilaapia  ep.;  fe- 

™,  .     .  .  J      «  1       i.  i.  j.i_  ™"'e  scale.— [After   Com- 

This  insect  spreads  from  one  plant  to  another  stock.] 
in  various  ways,  but  chiefly  by  the  aid  of  winds  which  carry  the  very  light 
young  just  after  batching,  and  also  upon  the  bodies  of  the  various  insects 
that  are  attracted  by  the  honey-dew,  and  also  upon  the  feet  and  legs  of 
birds  which  alight  upon  the  trees  that  are  occupied  by  the  young  lice. 
Then,  too,  they  migrate  by  walking.  Only  the  males  of  these  Bark-lice 
are  provided  with  wings.  What  is  true  of  this  bark-louse  is  also  true  of 
other  species. 

Remedies.— The  very  best  direct  remedy  against  these  bark-lice  is  the 
use  of  kerosene  emulsion  at  the  time  when  the  young  are  hatching  and 
wandering  about  over  the  trees.  One  or  two  careful  sprayings  at  such 
times  will  effectually  destroy  the  insects.  The  use  of  alkali  washes  is 
also  strongly  recommended  as  remedies  for  scale-insects. 


56  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

Others  of  these  scale-insects  are  figured  at  92  and  93,  also  in  several  of 
my  reports  to  the  State  Horticultural  Society. 

The  family  ALEYRODiDiE  is  comprised  of  minute  insects,  which  in  their 
immature  stages  somewhat  resemble  the  scale-insects ;  but  which  after 
maturing  have  four  wings  in  both  sexes.  As  these  insects  are  all  small 
and  differ  but  little  in  color  they  are  rather  diflBlcult  to  separate  The 
species  are  quite  numerous  and  seem  to  be  pretty  closely  confined  to  cer- 
tain special  host  plants,  which  they  often  injure  by  their  presence  in 
imniense  numbers. 

Family  Afuwivm.— (Plant-lice.) 

There  is  perhaps  no  other  group  of  insects  that  attracts  an  equal 
amount  of  attention  with  the  plant-lice  belonging  to  the  family  Aphidid^. 
No  year  passes  without  one  or  more  of  the  species  appearing  in  damaging 
numbers  in  different  portions  of  the  country.  Neither  is  there  an  impor- 
tant crop  grown  but  that  suffers  more  or  less  from  the  ravages  of  some 
member  of  this  family.  Notable  examples  of  such  injury  are  to  be  cited 
in  the  species  that  infest  the  small  grains,  corn,  sorghum,  cabbage,  apple 
trees,  plum  trees,  the  hop  vine;  and,  in  fact,  almost  any  other  plant  that 
is  grown  for  food  or  ornament,  as  well  as  those  that  are  native  and  un- 
cultivated. Every  housekeeper  who  has  tried  to  grow  a  few  plants  for 
ornament  during  the  long,  dreary  winter  months,  is  familiar  with  one  or 
more  of  these  insects  from  seeing  them  on  her  tender  charges;  while  the 
professional  gardener  and  horticulturist  is  too  well  acquainted  with  the 
♦'green-fly"  of  the  hot  house  to  need  instructions  concerning  its  injuri- 
ous nature. 


Fio.  94— Apple  tree  LeaMonse.  Fio.  95.— Grain  Plant-louBe. 

Briefly  these  plant-lice  or  "Aphides,"  as  they  are  quite  commonly 
called,  can  be  characterized  as  small  soft-bodied  insects  which  receive 
their  nourishment  in  the  form  of  juices  pumped  up  by  means  of  a  jointed 
beak  which  the  owner  inserts  into  the  tender  portions  of  growing  plants. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


57 


.....^^^^few^ 


They  are  provided  with  six  legs,  and  are  winged  or  not,  as  happens. 
When  the  former,  they  have  two  pairs  of  these  members.  One  of  each 
form  is  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustrations— the  winged  figure  repre- 
senting the  Apple  tree  Leaf-louse,  and  the  other  the  Grain  Plant-louse. 

In  their  mode  of  life  these  lice  differ  greatly  one  from  another;  but 
roughly  speaking,  they  can  be  classed  as  root-feeders  or  as  above-ground 
feeders.  They  may  also  be  separated  into  gall- makers  and  non-gall- 
makers,  accordingly  as  each  species  attacks  its  host  plant. 

In  their  modes  of  re- 
production, the  major- 
ity of  the  members  of 
the  family  are  both  ovi- 
parous and  viviparous, 
i.  e.,  they  multiply  both 
by  means  of  eggs  and 
by  a  sort  of  "  budding  " 
process.  The  group  is 
further  specialized  by 
containing  members 
which  occur  in  two  or 
more  distinct  forms, 
each  of  which  works  on 
different  portions  of 
the  same  plant  or  upon 

Fio.  ^^.-Pempbigus  popuU-monUis;  a.  winged  female;  g,        different  plants  during 

galls.— [After  Kiiey.]  different  seasons  of  the 

year.  The  egg-laying  females  are  also  distinct  from  the  viviparous  fe- 
males. In  fact,  taken  as  a  whole,  the  family  Aphididae  is  composed  of 
a  large  number  of  species  that  vary  greatly  among  themselves  in  life-his- 
tory and  food  habits;  and  it  be- 
comes quite  necessary  for  the 
economic  entomologist  to  ac- 
quaint himself  with  these  facts 
in  order  to  prescribe  remedies 
for  any  particular  species. 

In  writing  of  the  life-history 
of  Boxelder  plant-louse  I  have 
said:  "This  insect  begins  its 
work  just  as  soon  as,  or  before, 
the  leaves  appear  in  spring, 
with  the  viviparous,  agamous 
female,  or  stem  mother.  She 
becomes  full  grown  in  a  few 
days,  and  begins  the  process  of 
reproduction  by  'budding'  in- 
ternally   and    expelling    small  „,„  o^    r.  „    .  „       ...  ^     ^ 

,,        ,.,,.,  ^\o.^T.—qa.\\ol  Pemphigus  vagabondue.— 

lice  of  her  kind,  which  in  turn,  [After  Riiej.] 


58 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


after  maturity,  repeat  the  operation.  The  successive  generations  con- 
tinue without  interruption  during  spring  and  summer,  some  of  them 
being  furnished  with  wings,  which  enable  them  to  migrate  from  place  to 
place.     In  this    manner  new  localities   become  infested,  damp    weather 

favoring  and  very  dry 
weather  retarding  their  ex- 
cessive increase."  By  this 
method  of  reproduction  it 
has  been  estimated  that  at 
the  end  of  the  twelfth  genera- 
tion alone  there  could  be 
alive  ten  sextillions  of  indi- 
viduals, not  to  mention  those 
of  former  generations.  Of 
course  this  could  never  oc- 


FiG.  98. — Aphis  br.issiras:  n,  so-called  male;  d,  wing- 
kas  viviparous  female.— [After  CurtiH.] 


cur  in  nature,  since  there  are  too  many  counter  checks  which  prevent 
the  greatest  possible  increase  in  any  insect. 

"Like  many  others  of  the  family  to  which  it  belongs,  the  Box-elder 
louse  is  provided  with  a  pair  of  'honey-tubes,'  or  nectaries,  as  they  are 
sometimes  called.  These  are  the  two  short  tubular  projections  which 
arise  from  the  sixth  abdominal  segment  above,  and  on  each  side  of  the 
middle.  They  are  connected  with  internal  glands,  which  secrete  a  sweet 
or  saccharine  fluid,  that  flows  continually  while  the  insect  feeds.  The 
'honoydew'  has  its  source  here,  and  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  the 
secretions  of  some  aphid.  Wherever  any  of  the  nectar-bearing  aphids 
occur  in  large  numbers,  and  sometimes  even  in  small  numbers,  there  are 
many  species  of  different  insects  congregated  about,  having  been  enticed 
thither  by  the  'honey  dew'  upon  which  they  are  fond  of  feeding.  Chief 
among  these  'camp  followers'  of  plant-lice  are  a  number  of  species 
of  ants,  that  live  upon  the  fluid  secreted  from  the  'honey  tubes'  of 
the  lice.  So  fond  are  these  ants  of  this  saccharine  fluid  that  many 
species  of  them  are  known  to  stand  guard  over  their  'cows,'  driving  away 
parasites  and  other  insects  where  this  is  possible.  Some  of  the  different 
kinds  of  ants  even  make  the  lice  captives,  carrying  them  down  into  their 
nests,  where  they  feed  them  so  as  to  be  able  to  milk  them  at  their  leisure." 

Remedies.— Usually  there  is  no  need  of  making  special  war  against 
these  tiny  creatures,  for  they  are  held  in  check  by  natural  enemies  in  the 
shape  of  predaceous  and  parasitic  insects.  Climatic  conditions,  too,  are 
usually  such  as  to  prevent  their  greatest  possible  increase.  Occasion- 
ally,  however,  when  all  the  conditions  favoring  their  increase  are  present, 
these  natural  checks  fail  to  do  their  work,  and  it  becomes  necessary  for  us 
to  resort  to  artificial  means  to  accomplish  the  desired  end.  When  this  is 
the  case,  the  use  of  kerosene  emulsion,  strong  soap-suds,  pyrethrum, 
tobacco  decoction,  tobacco  smoke,  etc.,  all  prove  very  effectual.  All  of 
these  remedies,  natural  and  artificial,  have  been  several  times  described 
by  me,  as  well  as  by  nearly  every  other  entomological  writer  in  the 
country,  therefore  will  not  be  repeated  here. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


59 


Family  PsYhhioM.— {Jumping  Plant-lice.) 
This  family  is  made  up  of  a  number  of  small  insects  that  remind  one 

not  a  little  of  the  Seventeen- 
year  Locust  or  Cicada  in  their 
form,  if  we  examine  the  ima- 
goes alone.  They  are  called 
"Jumping  Plant-lice  "  orPsyl- 
lids,  in  order  to  distinguish 
them  from  other  plant-lice. 
They  also  feed  entirely  upon 
the  juices  of  plants,  and  many 
of  them  form  galls.  Others 
of  them-  live  without  these 
protections,  ''out  of  doors," 
either  upon  the  leaves  or 
twijjs,  as  do  the  aphids.  The 
hackberry  seems  to  suffer 
most  from  the  attacks  of  these 
jumping  lice,  at  least  ten  spe- 
cies having  been  found  thus 
far.  Pigs.  99  and  100  will  give 
the  reader  some  idea  of  the 
appearance   of  these  insects, 

Fio.  99.-GaIl  of  Pachypsyihi  c.  mamma:' a,  leaf  with  ^^  well    as    their    mode   of  at- 
Kalls    from    underHide— natural     size;    b,   8ection   of  tack.      Like     Other     gall-form- 


pall    showinK    cup-like    depression,   am 
cavity;  c.  pupa— eularp;ed. — [After  Kiley.] 


ing  insects,    each  species    of 


^r^- 


i-t-- 


these  psyllids  forms  a  char- 
acteristic gall  and  infests 
some  particular  portion  of  the 
infested  plant. 

The  family  MEMBRACiOiE 
embraces  a  number  of  small 
jumping  bugs  that  usually  re- 
ceive the  name  of  "Tree- 
hoppers."  Of  these  insects  we 

.  ,  e     J-    L-      1.    I^'<5-  100.— PaeZij'/Jsj//,-!  c.  mamma;  imago— enlarged. 

have    a    number   of    distinct  — (After  luiey.] 

forms  within  the  state  of  Nebraska  ;  and  not  a  few  of  them  are  remarka- 
ble on  account  of  the  peculiar  and  grotesque  forms  of  their  large  pro- 
notum.  Our  Buffalo  Tree-hopper  is  a  characteristic  form  that  will  at 
once  indicate  to  the  reader  what  these  insects  are  like.  Some  of  the  spe- 
cies have  their  backs  greatly  humped,  and  others  are  provided  with  spines 
and  angles  which  render  them  very  ferocious  in  appearance  at  least  if  not 
in  reality.  In  general  they  remind  one  of  the  Tettiginao  among  the  Or- 
thoptera. 

Th6r  family  CiOADiD^  or  "Harvest- flies,"  as  they  are  sometimes  called, 
is  well  represented  by  the  illustration  numbered  101,  where  our  common 
large  species  in  Nebraska  is  shown  in   different  positions  and  sexes. 


60 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


These  insects  are  interesting  on  account  of  their  peculiar  mode  of  life; 
and  because  of  the  great  length  of  time  that  is  required  for  some^of  the 
species  to  complete  their  life-cycle.  The  Seventeen-year  Cicada  {Cicada 
septendecim),  as  the  name  implies,  requires^eventeen  years  for  a  single 
generation;  while  the  Thirteen-year  species VCtcada  tredecim)  is  thirteen 
years  in  attaining  its  full  growth.  Some  of  our  other  species  are  also 
evidently  quite  long  in  reaching  maturity;  but,  as  these  latter  do  not  ap- 
pear in  such  overwhelming  numbers  as  do  those  just  mentioned,  it  is  a 
more  difficult  matter  to  trace  their  life- cycles.  The  female  cicada  is  pro- 
vided with  a  horny  ovipositor  with  which  her  eggs  are  inserted  in  the 
stems  of  various  plants.  These  eggs  soon  hatch,  and  the  young  drop  to 
the  ground  where  they  burrow  quite  deeply  and  attach  themselves  to  the 
roots  of  various  plants  where  they  subsist  upon  sap  and  gradually  in- 
crease in  size.  When  full-grown  they  come  to  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
creep  up  the  stems  of  plants,  shed  their  skins,  and  appear  as  winged  in- 
sects ready  to  provide  for  a  succeeding  generation. 


1  —Cicarla  sp  •  a,  nymph;  6,  male;  c,  female;  d,  male  abdomen  from  below;  e,  do, 
female;  /,  front  of  head  showing  beak.— [Original  H,  G.  Barber.] 

The  males  of  this  family  are  provided  with  a  musical  apparatus  (see 
Pig.  101  at  d  1)  by  means  of  which  they  are  enabled  to  produce  very  loud 
noises.  Each  species  produces  a  characteristic  "song"  by  which  it  can 
be  distiuguised  from  all  others.  When  present  in  large  numbers  the 
din  produced  by  the  host  of  males  stridulating  in  unison  is  almost  deafen- 
ing. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


61 


•a  * 

The  family  Fulqoridae,  while  very  well  represented  in  the  state  by  a 
number  of  rather  small  insects,  is  really  more  characteristic  of  the 
tropics.  No  type  form  can  be  figured  that  would  illustrate  the  group. 
The  Lantern-fly  of  Brazil  and  the  Candle-flies  of  China  and  the  Indian 
Empire  are  among  the  interesting  examples  that  belong  to  the  family. 
Some  of  these  insects  resemble  those  of  the  following  family,  others  remind 
one  a  little  of  butterflies  and  moths,  while  still  others  might  be  mistaken 
for  members  of  the  orders  Neuroptera  and  Trichoptera.  The  Fulgoridse 
are  vegetable  feeders,  but  none  of  our  species  have  thus  far  proved  to  be 
especially  injurious.  Some  of  the  tropical  species  are  phosphorescent, 
hence  their  na^aes. 

The  family  Cercopidae  is  composed  of  jumping  bugs  which  bear  a 

sort  of  general  resemblance  to  the 
members  of  the  families  Mem- 
bracidaB  and  Jassidae;  and,  like 
those  insects,  are  sap-suckers. 
Unlike  them,  though,  the  "  Spittle- 
insects,"  or  "Frog-hoppers,"  as 
they  are  sometimes  called,  are  pro- 
tected under  a  mass  of  froth 
which  the  growing  insects  cover 
themselves  with  while  feeding. 
This  family  is  very  well  repre- 
sented by  the  illustration  at  Fig. 
102,  the  larva  at  a,  the  "  spittle  "  at 
Some  of  these  insects  often  do  considerable  injury 


.«^#-\^ 


larva  enlarsed, 
adult  enlarged. 


Fio  102.— Spittle  Insect:  a 
natural  size  of  larva,  c 
[After  Pu.ckard]. 

b,  and  the  imago  at  c. 

to  vegetation  upon  which  they  cluster  and  pump  up  the  sap. 

By  far  the  largest  family  of  these  jumping  bugs  is  that  known  to  the 
entomologist  as  Jassid^  ;  and  it  contains  a  number  of  representatives 
that  are  very  destructive  to  different  kinds  of  vegetation.  Unlike  the 
Aphiddiae  and  Psyllidse  which  are  pretty  closely  restricted  in  their  food- 
habits  to  particular  plants,  the  Jassidae  are  more  general  feeders. 

The  form  of  the  body  in  these  insects  "is  commonly  long  and  slender, 
often  spindle-shaped,  with  a  large  transverse  prothorax  not  much  wider 
than  the  head.  The  front  is  generally  an  oblique,  cross-ribbed,  inflated 
prominence,  with  the  cheeks  touching  the  anterior  coxae,  but  rarely  if 
ever,  restraining  their  movement.  They  have  a  rather  large  triangular 
scutellum  ;  the  wing-covers  curve  over  the  sides  of  the  abdomen,  appear 
as  tapering  towards  the  tip,  and  the  membrane  is  distinguished  from  the 
more  leathery  corhini'''  (Uhler). 

These  insects  have  received  the  popular  name  "  Leaf-hoppers ''  since 
they  are  powerful  jumpers  and  are  most  frequently  found  on  leaves  and  ' 
grasses.  The  family  is  subdivided  into  smaller  groups  by  different 
writers;  but  for  our  present  purposes  no  subdivision  need  be  made. 
Several  of  these  Leaf -hoppers  are  shown  in  the  accompanying  figures. 
(See  Figs.  103,  104,  and  105.) 


62 


A  PKELIMlNAliY  INTEODUCTION 


Professor  Herbert  Osborn,  of  Ames,  Iowa,  who  has  made  a  special 
study  of  theso  insects,  says  they  are  accountable  for  fully  one-half  of  the 
insect  injury  to  meadows.    As  a  remedy  he  suggests  the  use  of  a  form  of 


O    Fig,  i03.— Diedrocephala  mollipes—lAtteT    O     Fia.  ^04r—Agalia  Sic-C^Fia.  W5-DeHocei>b- 
Osborn].  eJ/"o7;a,  enlarged  —  alusinimicus—lAt- 

[Original].  ter  0.sborn]. 

"hopper  dozer ''  similar  to  that  described  for  fighting  the  various  species 
of  destructive  locusts  and  grasshoppers.  The  species  that  attack  trees 
and  vines  can  be  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  use  of  kerosene  emulsion. 

ORDER   X.     COLEOFTERA.— {Beetles.) 

The  insects  which  comprise  this  order  are,  for  the  most  part,  very 
well  marked  in  their  characters,  and  have  always  been  the  favorites  with 
young  entomologists.  They  have  also  been  studied  more  as  perfect  in- 
sects than  have  any  of  the  other  orders,  unless  we  except  the  Lepidop- 
tora.  Their  compactness  and  hard  bodies  also  render  them  more  readily 
cared  for  in  collections  than  are  those  of  other  orders.  If,  however,  we 
should  include  the  larval  forms  also  in  this  cate  ;  )ry,  we  must  acknowledge 
that  some  of  the  oth  r  orders  are  better  known  than  are  the  beetles. 
This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  their  larval  forms  are  more  difficult  to  find 
than  are  those  of  some  of  the  other  groups.  There  are  upwards  of  100,- 
000  species  of  these  insects  described  and  now  contained  in  the  various 
large  collections  of  the  world. 

In  writing  of  these  insects  Prof.  A.  S.  Packard  says  :*  "The  most  pro- 
ductive places  for  the  occurrence  of  beetles  are  alluvial  loams  covered 
with  woods,  or  with  rank  vegetation,  where  at  the  roots  of  plants  or  upon 
their  flowers,  under  leaves,  logs,  and  stones,  under  the  bark  of  decaying 
trees,  and  in  ditches,  and  by  the  banks  of  streams,  the  species  occur  in 
the  greatest  numbers.  Grass  lands,  mosses,  and  fungi,  the  surfaces  of 
trees  and  dead  animals,  bones,  chips,  pieces  of  board,  and  excrement, 
should  be  searched  diligently.  Many  are  thrown  ashore  in  sea- wrack,  or 
occur  under  the  debris  of  freshets  on  river  banks.  Many  Carabidas  run 
on  sandy  shores.     Very  early  in  spring  stones  can  be  upturned,  ants' 

•Guide  to  the  Study  of  Insects,  p.  427. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


63 


iffests  searched,  and  the  muddy  waters  sifted  for  species  not  met  with  at 
other  times  of  the  year." 

Beetles  have  the  front  pair  of  win?s  horny  and  of  little  or  no  use  in 
flight.  These  "  wing-covers  "  or  elytra,  as  they  are  called,  cover  the  two 
hind  joints  of  the  thorax,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  abdomen.  The 
hind  wings  are  membraneous  and  are  tucked  away  under  the  front  pair, 
where  they  are  protected.  In  their  development  these  insects  pass 
through  a  complete  metamorphosis,  i.  e.,  they  have  a  quiet  pupa  stage. 
The  larvae,  which  are  called  "  grubs,''  vary  greatly  in  form,  ranging  from 
the  Thysanuriform  larva  as  found  in  the  Carabidae  and  several  other 
families,  to  that  of  the  footless  grubs  of  the  snout  beetles.  A  few  of  the 
families  of  beetles  possess  both  the  active  and  inactive  larval  forms  in 
the  same  species  during  the  different  ages  of  these  immature  stages.  In 
the  Meloidae  and  Stylopidae  the  larvae  are  at  first  provided  with  six  legs 
and  are  very  active,  but  later  they  become  footless  and  inactive.  In  their 
general  structure  beetles  are  also  just  as  variable  as  they  are  in  size  aud 
food-habits.  The  characters  that  are  used  by  systematists  in  the  class- 
ification of  beetles  are  also  numerous  and  variable.  Some  of  these  are 
the  form  and  relative  position  of  the  various  mouth-parts,  eyes,  antennae, 
prothorax,  sterna,  coxae,  tibiae,  etc. 


Fig.  106.— Various  forms  of  beetle  antennaB:  1,  filiform;  2,  3,  serrate;  4,  pectinate 
or  oomb-toothed;  5,  capitate  or  knol)bed;  6,  7,  8,  clavate  or  club-shaped- 
9,  10.  lamellate  or  pkated.— [After  Le  Comte.] 

Some  of  the  forms  of  beetle  antennae  are  shown  in  the  accompanying 
illustration.     (See  Fig.  106.) 

The  family  Cicindelid.e  is  composed  of  a  number  of 
brightly  colored  active  species  that  live  for  the  most  part  on 
the  ground  where  they  pursue  and  capture  other  insects  of 
various  kinds  upon  which  they  feed.  On  account  of  their 
bright  colors  and  predaceous  habits  they  have  received  the 
name  of  "Tiger-beetles."  Some  of  our  tiger-beetles  prefer  to 
make  their  homes  upon  mud  flats,  others  choose  hardly  beaten 
roads  and  paths,  and  still  others  frequent  sandy  localities. 
The  larvae  of  these  beetles  live  in  perpendicular  burrows 
which  they  construct  for  themselves.  Like  the  mature 
beetles  these  larvae  are  also  predaceous,  and  lie  in  wait  for- 
their  prey  at  the  top  of  their  burrows.  These  grubs  or  larv^ 
are  enabled  to  hang  in  their  burrows  by  means  of  a  pair  of  tubercles  with 
hooks  that  arise  from  the  ninth  segment  of  their  bodies.     The  head  of 


64 


A  PKELIMINAEY  INTRODUCTION 


these  larvae  is  large  and  ungainly  and  is  usually  covered  with  dirt  sb 
as  to  resemble  the  surrounding  earth  and  render 
its  presence  vmobserved  by  the  unsuspecting  prey. 
When  disturbed  these  tiger-beetle  larvae  drop  to 
the  bottom  of  their  holes;  and  by  this  means  we 
are  often  surprised  when  walking  along  a  mud 
flat  to  suddenly  see  a  number  of  round,  clean-cut 
holes  appear,  and  then  again  just  as  suddenly  dis- 
appear as  the  insects  come  to  the  surface  and 
thrust  their  heads  into  the  openings.  While  most 
of  our  native  tiger-beetles  are  ground  dwellers, 
there  are  many  species  in  tropical  countries  that 
live  on  the  trunks  of  trees  and  among  their 
branches  where  they  find  their  prey. 

Immediately  following  the  "Tiger-beetle" 
family,  and  closely  related  to  it,  we  have  a  second 
group  of  these  predaceous  beetles.  These  are  the 
ones  that  are  usually  known  as  "  Ground-beetles." 
The  family  is  a  very  extensive  one  since  in -the 
United  States  alone  it  contains  upwards  of  1,000 
distinct  species  that  have  already  been  de- 
scribed. Without  exception  these  ground  beetles 
are  predaceous  or  feeders  upon  such  other 
insects,  snails,  and  crustaceans  as  they  can  capture  and  kill.  The  best 
haunts  for  the  beetles  of  the  family  Carabidae  is  th6  margins  of  streams, 
among  fallen  leaves  and  other  vegetation  lying  upon  the  ground,  where 
they  can  hide  away  during  daytime.  Like  most  other  predaceous  animals 
these  "ground-beetles"  are  chiefly  nocturnal  in  their  prowlings.  The 
larvae,  as  well  as  the  imagoes  of  this  family,  are  predaceous  in  their  food- 
habits.     Several  species  of   Carabidae  are  figured  in  the   illustrations 


Fio.  108.— The  Bordered 
Tiger  beetle  {Cicindpla 
Jiwbatti,.) — [From  In- 
sect Life.] 


fe®        ill^        J^ 


Fio.  109.— Larva  of  Gronnd  beetle  {Harpalaa pennsylvauicaa). 
[After  lliley]. 


Fio.  110.— Qrotind  beetle 
( Harpa  las  caVgiii  osus). 
—[After  Kiley]. 


numbered  100  to  103.  A  number  of  exceptions  as  to  habits,  at  least, 
might  be  mentioned  here  if  the  writer  had  the  time  and  space  for  doing 
this.  The  members  of  both  this  and  the  preceding  family  are,  therefore, 
of  much  interest  economically. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


65 


There  are  several  species  of  water  beetles  found  within  the  state  that 
are  also  of  more  or  less  importance  on  account  of  their  food- habits. 
Some  of  these  latter  play  very  important  parts  in  the  equalization  of  the 


FiQ.  111.— The  Fiery  Calosoma 
( Calosoma  calidum.)— [After 
Kiley]. 


Fia.  112. — Elons^ated  Ground 
Beetle  ( Pasimacbns  elonga- 
«QS.)— [After  Riley.] 


Fio.  113.— Ground  beetle. 
—[After  Riley]. 


aquatic  life  of  our  lakes  and  streams.  Examples  of  three  families  of 
these  water  beetles  are  shown  in  the  figures  from  114  to  116.  The  first  of 
these  (Pig.  114)  is  one  of  the  Dztiscid^  or  "Water-tigers,"  as  these 
beetles  are  called.  The  members  of  this  family  are  readily  distinguished 
from  the  other  water  beetles  by  the  antennae  which  are  long  and  thread- 
like.   The  second  insect,  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  115,  is  a  representative  of 


Fig.  \U.—DytiBcu8  marginalis:  a,  larva  devourinc  larva  of  Agrion;  b, 
pupa;  c,  male  beetle. — [After  Riley]. 

the  family  Htdrophilid^.  In  this  family  we  find  the  antennae  short  and 
with  a  knob  on  the  end.  The  larvae  of  this  family  aie  carnivorous,  but 
the  imagoes  are  vegetable  feeders,  living  for  the  most  part  upon  the 
decaying  vegetable  matter  found  in  water.     The  remaining  figure  shows 


66 


A  PRELIMINAEY  INTEODUCTION 


to  the  reader  the  insects  that  ordinarily  are  called  "  Whirligig  beetle  "  or 
"Lucky-bugs."    They  bear  the  family  name  Gyrinidjs. 


Fig.  115. — Hydrophilus  triangularis:  a,  larva;  b,  male  beetle;  c,  pupa. — [Alter  Riley]. 

Many  of  these  aquatic  beetles  aid  greatly  in  reducing  the  number  of 
fishes  in  our  waters  by  attacking  and  destroying 
both  the  spawn  and  the  young  fishes  before  they  are 
able  to  care  for  themselves.  They  also  do  a  little 
good  on  the  other  hand  by  feeding  upon  the  larval 
forms  of  various  gnats  and  mosquitoes.  If  we  wish 
to  observe  the  nicety  in  which  Nature  works,  we 
need  only  to  notice  how  admirably  these  creatures 
are  formed  for  the  lives  which  they  lead. 
^\^'  The  family  Staphylinid^    is  a  very    extensive 

'  one  indeed,  and  its  representatives  quite  variable 

Fio.116 -Grrin us:  l.beetle:   .       .,.,,,,.,  ,  n        i         ■      i.u    • 

2,iarva.-[ArteiPackaiU]  in  their  food-habits  and  consequently  also  m  their 
haunts.  These  insects  which  are  known  popularly  as  "Rove beetles" 
are  well  illustrated  by  Fig.  117.  The  elytra  of  the  Staphy- 
linidae  are  short,  and  only  cover  one  or  two  of  the  basal 
segments  of  the  abdomen.  Under  these  short  wing-covers 
the  membranous  wings  are  tucked  away  in  a  manner  some- 
what similar  to  that  adopted  by  the  Dermaptera  and  de- 
scribed on  a  preceding  page.  These  insects  have  a  peculiar 
habit  of  carrying  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  elevated  when 
running  about  or  even  when  resting.  Several  other  small 
families  possess  a  similar  habit  in  this  re.spect.  Since 
many  species  of  these  rove-beetles  feed  upon  decaying 
vegetable  and  animal  matter,  as  well  as  the  droppings  of 
various  animals,  they  are  to  be  included  among  the  scavengers  belonging 
to  the  class  insecta.  Others  are  found  in  the  nests  of  ants,  and  still 
others  infest  the  different  species  of  "toad-stools." 

Several  other  families  of  beetles  with  abreviated  elytra  occur  within 
the  state  ;  but  as  these  latter  are  not  especially  destructive,  neither  bene- 


Fio.117.— P/J/70D- 
tliua  apicalis — 
[After  Kiley]. 


_     PROPER, 

^   P.  METCALF 

TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


07 


ficial,  in  their  relations  to  man,they  will  be  omitted  from  the  present  paper. 

There  are  two  families  that  systematists  place  immediately  after  the 

water  beetles  which  include  minute  forms  that  live  as  parasites  upon  the 

bodies  or  within  the  nests  of  certain  Rodents.    One  of  these,  the  Beaver 

parasite  {Platypsyllus  castoris),  is 
shown  herev^^ith  in  Fig.  118  greatly 
magnified.  This  insect  lives  upon 
the  animal  among  the  fur  just  as 
lice  do.  Its  larvae  are  also  found 
in  the  same  place ;  but  the  pupa 
stage  and  eggs  have  not,  as  yet, 
been  located.  The  insect,  although 
of  no  apparent  importance  eco- 
nomically, is  of  much  interest  to 
the  working  entomologist  who  de- 
v\  sires  to  learn  the  relationship  ex- 
y>  isting  between  the  various  insects 
that  occur  about  him.  To  find  a 
representative  of  an  order  like  the 
Coleoptera  living  the  life  of  a  Mal- 
lophagous  insect  seems  very  diflB- 
cult  for  the  entomologist  to  account 
for. 

The  "carrion-beetles,"  families 
Fig.  UB.-Piatypsyiius  easfor/s.-cinsect  Life.]  SiLPHiDyE,  and  allies,  as  the  Com- 
mon name  indicates,  are  devourers  of  decaying  animal  and  vegetable 
matter  of  various  kinds.  The  large  "  Burying-beetles  "  that  are  so  famil- 
iar to  most  of  us,  have  the  habit  of  burying  dead  animals  in  which  they 
first  lay  their  eggs.  Later,  when  the  eggs  have  hatched,  the  larvae  feed 
upon  the  food  thus  provided  by  their  parents.  These  beetles  are  black 
and  red  in  color.  Other  representatives  of  the  family  are  flattened  beetles 
of  dull  black  and  browish  colors. 

Several  additional  families  of  these  carrion-infesting  beetles  occur  in 
almost  every  region  of  the  earth.  They  are  the  Histerid^,  or  "Pill- 
beetles,"  NiTiDULiD^,  and  Dermestid^.  The  Histerdiye  also  frequent 
decaying  vegetation  and  droppings  of  animals  as  well 
as  carrion.  They  are  small,  oval,  hard-shelled  beetles 
with  shining  bodies.  Some  of  them  are  bright  green, 
bronzy,  black,  or  pitchy  in  color  ;  and  a  few  of  them 
have  blotches  of  red  upon  their  wing-covers.  The  Nitid- 
ulidae  are  usually  found  upon  dry  carrion;  and  are 
small,  flat-bodied  beetles  that  are  variously  marked  and 
mottled  with  yellow,  dull  brown,  and  gray.  A  few  of 
them  also  infest  decaying  vegetable  substances.  One 
of  these  latter  is  shown  in  Fig.  119.  The  third  family, 
Dermestidae,  often  attack  various  dried  meats,  skins,  collections  of  insects, 
etc.,  and  make  themselves  generally  detested  by  man.    The  insect  figured 


Fig.  119— 7pA-  tascia- 
tus,  larva  and  bee- 
tle enlarged  —[Af- 
ter Packard]. 


68 


A  PEELIMINAEY  INTRODUCTION 


at  120  is  a  common  household  pest  where  it  enters  pantries,  kitchens,  and 
other  places  in  which  stores  are  kept.  It  is  also  quite  a  dreaded  museum 
pest  that  must  be  guarded  against  if  we  would  preserve  our  specimens  in- 
tact. The  name  of  this  insect  is  Dermestes  lar- 
darius.  Other  species  of  the  genus  are  seldom 
found  indoors  but  are  very  plentiful  out  of 
doors  where  they  can  be  found  in  early  spring 
upon  carrion  of  different  kinds.  Other  forms 
are  especially  known  as  museum  pests ;  and 
one  is  known  as  the  "  Buffalo-moth  "  of  carpets. 
It  often  gathers  about  the  edges  of  carpets  in 
rooms  that  are  kept  dark  and  there  does  much 
injury  by  eating  the  carpets  full  of  holes.  The 
insect  also  infests  different  articles  of  woolen 
clothing  when  stored  for  any  great  length  of 
Fio.  120— Derm  estos  lardarius:   time.     Sometimes  the  larvae  and  imagoes  of 

larva     and     beetle.— [After     .,.,,,  «  n    •       ^      j_i  ^^•,  j 

itiiey.]  this  beetle  are  found  in  feather  pillows,  and 

when  this  is  the  case  they  soon  reduce  the  entire  contents  into  a  pow- 
dery mass. 

The  "Lady-bugs"  or  "Lady-birds,"  as  the  insects  are  called  which  en- 
tomologists have  grouped  together  under  the  family  name  Cocoinellid.e, 
are  none  of  them  very  large;  neither  are  any  of  them  among  the  smallest 
representatives  of  the  order  Coleoptera. 
These  insects  are  oval  in  form  and  can 
be  very  well  represented  by  the  nine- 
spotted  Lady-bird  which  is  shown  in  ¥ig. 
122,  along  with  its  larva  at  121.  The  il- 
lustrations are  both  much  enlarged. 
These  insects  are  among  our  best  friends, 
since  they  occupy  most  of  their  time  in 
feeding  on  various  kinds  of  plant-lice 
and  the  eggs  and  young  larvas  of  many 
injurious  insects,  such  as  the  Colorado 
Potato-beetle  and  various  other  leaf  feed- 
ing beetles  of  the  family  Chrysomelidae. 
Recent  importations  of  several  Australian  Lady-birds  have  greatly  re- 
duced a  scale-insect  in  California,  where  it  had  become  a  very  dangerous 


Fio.  121.— Larva 
of  Lady-bird. — 
[Ater  Smith.] 


Fio.  122.— Coccin- 
ella,  9-notata,. — 
[After  Smitli.] 


The  family  CucujiD.a2  contains  a  number  of  rather  small,  brownish 
bsetles  that  are  very  general  feeders.  Sometimes  they  become  injurious 
to  stored  grains,  meal,  and  even  to  drugs  and  groceries  of  various  sorts. 
A.  few  of  them  are  also  known  to  be  museum  pests.  Several  of  these  in- 
sects have  been  described  by  me  as  small  grain  pests.  One  of  these 
beetles  is  shown  in  Fig.  ]23, 


TO  THE  STtJl)Y  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


69 


The  insects  known  as  "  Snapping-bugs,"  Click-beetles,  etc.,  family 
Elatebidj];,  are  very  well  represented  by  the  illustration  (Fig.  121)  which 
is  intended  for  Melanotus  communis,  one  of  our  com- 
monest species  in  Nebraska.  The  larvae  of  these  beetles 
are  known  as  "  wire-worms,"  and  are  among  the  most 
troublesome  pests  the  farmer  has  to  deal  with.  Some  of 
these  wire-worms  require  several  years  in  which  to  at- 
tain their  growth  ;  and  others  are  phosphorescent,  show- 
ing as  beautiful  objects  after  night.  One  of  our  largest 
beetles  of  this  kind  here  in  Nebraska  is  known  as  Al  lus 
oculatus,  or  the  Eyed  Snapping-beetle.  It  is  gray  and 
black,  with  eye-like  spots  upon  the  prothorax.  Its  larvae 
live  in  rotten  wood. 
Fia.  123.— snvanus        Immediately    following    the    "  Snapping-beetles"  we 

surinameosis.  —  ,  j         •         /.        •,  ^    .  ,       , 

[uriginai.]  have  a  very  extensive  family  of  insects  known  as  the 

BuPRESTiD.aE.  These  beetles  bear  a  general 
resemblance  to  the  Elateridae ;  but  instead 
of  working  in  the  ground  the  larvae  of  these 
latter  insects  are  borers,  and  work  within 
the  stems  and  trunks  of  trees  and  various 
other  plants.  Their  larvae  have  the  tho- 
racic joints  greatly  enlarged  and  somewhat 
flattened  so  as  to  give  the  front  end  of  the  body 
a  flattened  appearance.  It  is  this  feature  that 
has  given  them  the  name  of  Flat-headed  borers 
in  distinction  to  the  larvae  of  the  Cerambycidae 
which  are  sometimes  called  "  round-headed " 
borers.  These  Buprestidae  are  very  destructive 
to  various  kinds  of  fruit,  shade,  ornamental, 
and  forest  trees  in  the  trunks,  limbs,  and  twigs  fig.  124.— The  Common  Snap- 
of  which  they  bore.  The  beetles  are  all  more  PJ^SiS' J  \a^a;  t" beetle: 
or  less  metallic  in  color,  have  hard,  flattened  —[Original] 
bodies  with  very  short  antennse,  and  their  legs  are  rather  short  and 
folded  close  to  the  body.  While  some  of  the  species  naturally  select 
strong,  healthy  trees  upon  which  to  work,  most  of  them  attack  those 
that  have  been  injured  in  some  way  or  other.  A  few  of  the  species 
are  confined  in  their  attacks  to  certain  kinds  of  trees  and  shrubs,  but 
others  of  them  are  quite  general  in  their  selection  of  their  host-plants. 
The  Buprestidae  have  been  treated  in  a  general  way  in  several  of  my 
annual  reports  to  the  State  Horticultural  Society,  where  remedies  for 
their  suppression  have  also  been  suggested. 

The  Fire-flies  or  Lampyrid.e  are  represented  by  the  illustration  given 
herewith.  (See  Fig.  125.)  Most  of  the  beetles  bear  a  rather  strong  re- 
semblance to  the  Elateridae,  but  are  soft-bodied  instead  of  hard  as  in 
the  snapping-beetles.    The  larvae  of  this  family  are  also  soft-bodied,  and 


70  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

instead  of  being  vegetable  feeders  are  predaceous  in  their  food  habits. 
In  some  forms  the  larvae  are  phosphorescent,  and  in  others  the  per- 
fect insects  possess  this  chacteristic.  A  few  of  the  species  are  wingless 
during  their  entire  lives.  The  insect  which  is  figured  is  known  as  Photi- 
nus  pyralis,  and  the  food  of  the  larva  is  said  to  be  earth-worms  and  soft- 
bodied  insects.  Another  insect  that  belongs  in  this  family  is  a  very  com- 
mon one  here  in  Nebraska, 
and  occurs  in  late  summer 
and  during  fall  upon  the 
blossoms  of  various  plants. 
It  is  the  slender  ochraceous 
beetle  with  an  oblong  black 
patch  upon  each  elytron  that 
we  so  often  see  in  numbers  in 

Fin.l25.—Pliotinu8  pyralis:   a,  larva;    ft,  pupa;    c.      SUCh  localities  as  those  men- 
beetIe.-[After  Riley.]  ^.^^^^   ^^^^^       j^^  j^^^^  ^^^ 

something  like  the  one  figured,  but  a  trifle  more  robust,  of  a  dirty  brown 
color,  and  has  the  entire  upper  surface  covered  with  a  soft  velvety  bloom. 

There  are  several  other  families  of  beetles  that  are  closely  related  to 
the  LampyridsB,  in  food  habits  at  least,  that  follow  closely.  The  Mala- 
CHiD^  are  all  small  species  and  may  be  found  upon  various  plants  which 
they  frequent  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  food.  This  food  consists  of  vari- 
ous small  insects,  mites,  etc.  The  Clerid^  also  have  carnivorous  habits, 
some  of  the  species  living  in  the  nests  of  bees,  and  others  making  their 
home  under  bark  of  dead  trees,  where  they  feed  u^pon  the  larvae  of  bor- 
ing beetles.     The  members  of  both  families  are  rather  bright  in  color. 

The  large  "  Stag-beetles  "  or  "  Pinch-bugs  "  that  most  of  us  as  boys 
played  with,  belong  to  the  family  Lucanid.e.  The  larvae  of  these  large 
beetles  which  closely  resemble  those  of  the  next  family  that  are  some- 
times called  "  Grub- worms  "  and  "  White  Grubs  "  live  in  decaying  logs 
and  stumps  where  they  work  between  the  wood  and  bark.  They  are  very 
likely  several  years  in  attaining  their  growth.  The  members  of  this 
family  can  be  readily  recognized  by  the  form  of  the  antennae  which  is  a 
little  like  that  of  the  next  family  and  like  the  illustration  numbered  9  in 
Fig.  106.  The  club  or  head  is  less  compact  than  that  of  the  members  of 
the  family  Scarabaeidae.    No  illustration  of  the  family  is  given. 

Perhaps  the  family  Soarab^eid^  is  the  most  interesting  one  in  the 
order  Coleoptera,  since  it  contains  so  many  giants  among  the  forms  that 
are  classed  here.  Its  representatives  also  include  forms  of  very  varied 
food-habits.  It  is  a  group  that  is  easily  limited  notwithstanding  that 
some  of  its  representatives  are  less  than  one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  length 
and  others  fully  six  inches  long  and  one-third  as  wide.  The  attennae  have 
the  club  composed  of  thin,  plate-like  joints  as  shown  at  10  in  Fig.  106. 
The  family  contains  many  odd  looking  creatures  in  which  the  head  and 
pronbtum  are  provided  with  horns  and  spine-like  projections  that  render 
them  formidable  in  appearance  if  not  in  reality.  The  true  home  of  these 
insects  is  the  tropics,  but  even  here  in  Nebraska  many  of    them  are 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


71 


to  be  fouud.     A  few  of  the  beetles  that  belong  to  the  family  and  that  are 
familiar  to  most  of  us  are  such  as  the  "  May-beetles,"  the  "  Rose-chafer," 

the  "  Rhinoceros  beetle," 
"Tumble  bugs,"  and  the 
•' Goldsmith  beetle."  Some  of 
the  manure-infesting  beetles 
of  this  family  are  beautiful 
in  color,  being  bright  green 
varied  with  various  shades  of 
red  and  yellow  bronze.  Some 
of  the  leaf-feeding  forms  also 
possess  beautiful  hues  of 
green,  yellow,  brown,  and 
red.  A  rather  large  per  cent 
of  these  insects  are  carrion 
eaters,  while  others  are 
known  to  live  a  sort  of  para- 
sitic life  in  the  nests  of  vari- 
ous ants.     Some  of  these  ant- 

FiG.   12i. -/vy.Jwo/.i  imiiLt.Ua:  a,  larva;  6,  pnpn;    c,  .         ,       ,, 

imaRo.-[Aftor  iijiey].  nest     dwellers    as      perfect 

insects  have  their  mouth-parts  protected  by  a  sort  of  shield-like  piece 
that  fits  in  the  mouth  like  an  oval  lid.  One  of  the  leaf-feeding  species  (PeZ- 
idnota  punctata),  and  also  a  coprophagous  form  are  shown  herewith. 
The  former  is  represented  by 
Fig.  126,  while  the  latter 
{Copris  Carolina)  is  shown  at 
127.  This  latter  insect  is 
known  popularly  as  a  "tum- 
ble-bug "  because  of  its  habit 
of  forming  pellets  of  dung 
in  which  it  lays  its  eggs  and 
afterwards  rolls  them  about 
until  a  hard  shell  is  formed 
on  their  outside  and  then 
buries  them  in  the  ground. 
The  egg  soon  hatches,  the 
grub  feeds  upon  the  food 
that  has  been  supplied,  grows 
rapidly,  and  soon  changes  to 
the  pupa  stage  within  the 
hard  outer  shell  of  the  ball 
that  now  furnishes  a  com- 
pact   cell    that    protects    it 

until   mature.      When   it   has    Fig.  127.— Copris  caro/yna;  a.  larva;  h,  a  section  of  excre 
.,  ,  ,  IT  1.1.  mentltioua    ball;    c,  pupa;     d,    female    beetle.— [A  ftei 

thoroughly      hardened,    the      Kiiey]. 

young  beetle  eats  its  way  out  of  the  cell  and  burrows  to  the  surface  of 

the  ground  and  soon  begins  life  by  rolling  balls  for  itself..    Some  kinds 


72 


A  PKELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


of  these  beetles  do  not  roll  the  food  supply  intended  for  their  young  into 
pellets,  but  burrow  into  the  ground  and  pack  the  substance,  among  which 
eggs  are  laid,  away  in  gallaries.  The  larva  of  Pelidnota  punctata,  which 
is  shown  in  Pig.  126,  have  been  taken  by  me  from  rotten  apple  tree 
stumps;  and  the  beetles  reported  as  doing  considerable  injury  to  the 
foliage  of  grape-vines.  A  couple  other  beetles  that  belong  to  this  family 
have  been  described  in  my  various  reports  to  the  Horticultural  and  Agri- 
cultural societies  of  the  state,  where  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  presenta- 
tion of  their  life-histories,  etc. 


Fio.  128.— Work  of  Hickory  Borer,  showing:  longitudinal  and  cross  section  of  stick 
with  burrows.    One-half  natural  size,— [After  Osborn,  in  Garden  and  ForeBt.\ 

Among  the  insects  that  are  considered  very  injurious  are  the  long- 
horned  boring  beetles  (family  Cerambyoid^).  These  insects  are  known 
as  the  "  round-headed  "  borers  in  distinction  to  those  of  the  family  Bu- 
prestidae  which  are  called  the  "flat-headed  borers."  While  most  of  the 
representitives  of  the  other  family  attack  trees  that  have  become  injured 
in  some  way  and  have  their  vitality  lessened,  the  Cerambycidae  on  the 

other  hand,  mostly  attack 
healthy  trees  and  often 
kill  them  outright  in  a 
short  time.  Several  of 
these  insects  have  been 
described  in  reports  al- 
ready referred  to  in  pre- 
^^  ceding  pages  of  this  paper. 

Jq?        3  ^^  C^         ^  The  reader  will  find  the 

„     ,„.     „^.  rr-  ,       ^  .         description  of    these    in- 

FiG,  129. — Cbion  cinctus,   Hickorv  Borer:  a,  epgs;  c,  larva; 
d,  pupa;  e,  imago.— [After  OsboVn  iu  Garden  and  Forest.]  sects    recorded    there.      A 

few  of  these  insects  are  quite  general  in  their  attacks,  but  most  of  them 
are  confined  to  certain  trees.  Some  of  the  borers  become  full-grown  in  a 
single  year,  but  others  require  several  years  in  which  to  attain  their 
growth.  The  members  of  one  genus  of  these  beetles  have  been  know  to 
live  as  larvae  for  a  dozen  or  more  years.     Some  idea  of  the  destructiveness 


to  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


78 


of  these  insects  can  be  had  by  a  reference  to  the  accompanying  cut  (Fig. 
128)  illustrating  the  work  of  the  Banded  Hickory  borer  [Chion  cinctus.) 
The  beetle  is  also  shown  at  Fig.  129.  This  is  one  of  the  species  that 
works  in  wood  that  has  been  killed.  Since  it  is  a  typical  insect  and  very 
common  wherever  the  hickory  grows,  I  will  therefore  give  the  following 
brief  mention  of  it  here: 

"Hickory  wood,  one  or  two  years  after  cutting,  is  often  badly  infested 
with  a  borer  that  may  so  riddle  it  as  to  reduce  its  value  even  for  fire  wood, 
and  render  it  entirely  worthless  for  any  purpose  of  manufacture.  One 
of  the  most  common  of  the  borers  infesting  it  is  the  one  here  mentioned, 
and  the  cuts  will  give  an  idea  of  its  character  and  the  appearance  of  its 
work.  The  beetles  issue  in  May  and  the  eggs  are  deposited  soon  after, 
and  it  is  evident  that  they  select  cut  timber  rather  than  standing  trees. 
The  larvae  work  into  the  wood  and  before  becoming  full  grown  penetrate 
the  hardest  heart-wood.  They  probably  require  two  or  three  years  to 
complete  their  growth,  and  some  instances  are  recorded  of  the  adults 
issuing  from  wood  years  after  it  had  been  made  into  articles  of  furniture, 
showing  that  growth  may  be  retarded  so  as  to  carry  the  length  to  a 
number  of  years. 

"For  firewood  it  is  sufficient  to  see  that  the  wood  is  used  the  first  year 
after  cutting,  but  for  timber  to  be  used  in  manufacturing  implements  or 
tools  some  method  of  protection  during  June  and  July  of  the  first  season 
after  cutting  must  be  resorted  to.  Storing  in  sheds,  the  openings  of 
which  are  protected  with  wire  screen,  would  be  effectual.  Stripping  the 
bark  is  considered  by  many  as  a  preventive,  and  as  it  doubtless  hastens 
the  drying  of  the  outer  portions  of  the  wood  and  avoids  the  presence  of 
any  sap  as  an  attraction,  it  would  seem  to  be  based  on  good  grounds. 
Probably  cutting  the  timber  in  late  summer  or  autumn  so  as  to  allow 
pretty  thorough  drying  before  the  time  of  appearance  of  the  beetles  the 
following  year  would  also  be  an  advantage." — ^Osborn.) 


Fio.  130.— The  Hackberry  GrapMsnnjs:  a.  larva;  ft.  pupa;  c,  female  beetle— all 
enlargi'd. — [After  Riley.] 

Another  of  these  long-horn  borers  is  shown  herewith  in  Fig.  130. 


74 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


The  family  of  "Leaf-beetles,  Chrysomelid.e,  contains  a  large  number 
of  quite  destructive  insects.  They  are  all  rather  small,  roundish,  or  ob- 
long,  bright    green,  yellowish,  brown,  black,  and  metallic  blue,  beetles 


Fig.  131. — Cbrysomela  multipunc- 
tatu,  beetle  and  larva — Slightly 
enlarged.— [Original.] 


Fig.  132.— The  Spotted  Cottonwood 
Beetle  {Lina  Lapponica)  showing 
variation  in  the  markings. — 
[Original.] 


Fig.  133.— The 
F  i  V  e-1  i  n  e  d 
Flea-beetle, 
Slightly  en- 
larged.— 
[Original.] 


Jh  rJn,f»  r  ?°'^^^-S''''f  "^  (Cbalmys  plhBta):  1.  egg:  2.  larva;  3.  larva  Jn  case;  4 
and  5  pupa,  front  and  side  views;  6  and  7.  the  beetle,  seen  from  above  and  the  side-all 
greatly  enlarged;  8.  sycamore  leaf,  showing  two  cases  and  work  of  larvffi.-[After  G  L 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


75 


that  are  variously  mottled  and  striped  in  their  coloration.  They  feed 
upon  vegetation  exclusively,  both  as  larvae  and  mature  insects.  f:'ome 
examples  of  the  family  are  the  Colorado  potaio-bestle,  the  Cucumber 
flea-beetle,  and  the  Grape-vine  Colaspis.  A  few  of  these  insects  are  shown 
in  the  illustrations  from  Figs.  131  to  138. 


Fig.  136.  —  Colaspia 
brunnea. — [Copied 
after  lliley.] 


Fio.  137.— Grape-viT.e  Tien 
beetle,  beetle  and  larva.- 
[After  Comstonk.] 


Fio.    135.— The    Penn- 
sylvania Flea-beetle, 
eligrhtly  enlarged. — 
[OriKinal.] 

The  family  Bruohid.e  contains  a  number  of*  rather  small  insects  that 
make  their  homes  in  the  seeds  of  various  plants,  and  especially  in  those 
of  the  Leguminos3B  or  pulse  family.  The  Bean  and  Pea-weevils  are  ex- 
amples of  this  family  that  all  of  us  are  familiar  with.  No  figures  of  these 
insects  are  given  simply  because  we  do 
not  happen  to  have  them  on  hand. 

The  family  Tenebrion'd^  is  also  a 
very  extensive  one  and  contains  a  great 
many  variations  as  to  habits  among  its 
members.  Some  are  plant-eaters  and 
attack  growing  herbs  of  different  kinds. 
Others  live  under  bark  of  dead  trees, 
and  still  others  infest  houses  where  they 
■meal"  beetles  belong  here,  as  do  also  the 
often  see  running  along  roads  and  paths 


Fio. 


Cassidn  bivittata,;  2,  larva; 
3,  pupa;  4,  imago,— [Aftep  Kiley.] 

feed  on  meal  and  grains.    The 
large  black  beetles  that  we  sc 


during  late  summer  and  early  fall.  These  latter  insects  can  be  recog- 
nized from  the  habit  they  have  of  standing  upon 
their  heads  and  elevating  their  tails  into  the  air 
when  disturbed.  They  belong  to  the  genera  Ele- 
odes  and  Asida.  Another  one  of  these  beetles 
that  is  interesting  on  account  of  its  peculiar 
form,  frequently  occurs  in  cellars  and  other  dark, 
damp  places.  This  peculiarity  consists  of  a  rather 
high,  wall-like  ridge  which  borders  its  pronotum 
and  wing-covers.  Its  scientific  name  is  Eviba- 
phion  muricatum. 

The    insects    that    are    popularly    known  as 
"Blister-beetles"    are    members  of   the    family 


Fin.  13!).— American  Meal- 
worm; a,  larva:  ft,  pupa; 
c,   beetle.— [After   Riley.] 


76  A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 

Meloid^.     These  insects  have  various  food-habits,  and  are  interesting 
from  different  standpoints  to  the  entomologist. 

These  blister-beetles  are  among  our  most  interesting  forms  of  insect 


Fig.    140 — The   One-colored  Fio.  141.— The  Spotted  Fio.     142.— The     Striped 

Blister-beetle  (.Vatrofiasis  Blister-beetle  (i57picau«a  Blister-beetle    (Epicau- 

uflJco;o7-.)— [Original.]  njacn7afa.— [OriRinal.]  ta  Wtfa/a.— [OriKinal.] 

life,  both  as  regards  their  life-histories  and  their  economic  importance  ; 
and  it  is  quite  difficult  for  us  to  decide  whether  their  existence  is  really 
more  of  a  benefit  than  a  detriment  to  us,  or  vice  versa.  They  appear 
during  the  months  of  June  and  July,  and  are  both  diurnal  and  nocturnal 
in  their  habits.  Prof.  C.  V.  Riley,  who  has  been  our  most  energetic 
American  entomologist  in  working  out  the  life-history  of  insects  of  eco- 
nomic importance,  published  an  account  of  the  life-histories  of  several 
species  of  the  genus  Epicauta  on  pages  297  to  302  of  the  First  Report  of 
the  United  States  Entomological  Commission.  In  that  work  he  shows 
how  the  eggs  are  laid,  hatched,  and  the  young  larvaB,  which  at  first  are 
very  active,  search  for  locust  or  grasshopper  eggs  upon  which  they  feed. 
The  life-history  of  these  little  triungulins,  as  they  are  called,  is  an  inter- 
esting one  as  portrayed  by  that  author,  but  not  more  so  than  are  the  suc- 
ceeding stages  through  which  the  same  insect  must  pass  before  it  can 
issue  into  the  world  as  a  full-grown  blister-beetle.  Were  it  not  for  the 
lack  of  space  I  would  quote  the  author's  paper  entire.  Those  who  would 
like  to  read  the  account  for  information  can  do  so  by  referring  to  the 
above  named  report. 

As  a  rule,  these  blister-beetles  are  gregarious  in  their  habits,  and  feed 
in  company— sometimes  by  the  thousands.  When  they  gather  upon  any 
particular  plant  or  plants  they  are  not  long  in  finishing  such  portions  of 
it  as  they  can  devour.  Juicy  plants  are  special  favorites  of  theirs  at 
times,  while  at  other  times  these  are  passed  by  and  they  seem  to  prefer 
just  the  opposite  qualities  in  their  food-plants.  Just  as  they  are  in  their 
comings  and  goings,  so  they  are  in  the  selection  of  what  they  subsist 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


77 


upon  as  mature  insects.  They  come  and  go  mysteriously,  sometimes 
only  as  a  few  stragglers,  but  more  frequently  in  large  swarms.  One  year 
they  prefer  one  food-plant,  and  another  year  another;  so  that  they  will 
include  most  of  our  common  plants  in  their  bill  of  fare  inside  of  a  dozen 
years. 

The  family  contains  a  number  of  other  forms,  some  of  which  are  par- 
asitic in  bees'  nests  and  others  that  we  are  ignorant  as  to  where  the 
preparatory  stages  are  passed.  The  name  "  Oil-beetles "  which  is  fre- 
quently bestowed   upon  members  of    the  group,  is   derived  from  the 


Fio.  liS.—Tjloderma  fragarix:  a.larva;  b,  beetle  aide  view; 
c,  same  from  above.— [After  Riley]. 


Fio.  144. — Plum  gonger;  a.pnnc- 
ture  in  fruit.— [Original.] 


Fig.    MQ.-Sphenopborna 
imago.- [Insect  Life.] 


ocbreus:    larva    and 


Fig.    145.— c  Calandra   oryzse:  a,  larva; 
pupa;  c.Calandra  granaria—aW  enlarged 
—[After  Packard.] 

peculiar  habit  that  most  of  them  have  of  excreting  an  oil-like  fluid  from 
the  knee  joints,  sometimes  in  large  quantities.  This  oil  frequently  pro- 
duces a  blister  when  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  bare  skin.  It  is  this 
feature  in  the  beetles  that  has  brought  the  "Spanish-fly"  into  medicinal 


A  number  of  families  of  the  Coleoptera  have  been  grouped  under  the 
name  of  Rhyncophora  and  placed  at  the  top  of  the  order.    These  insects 


78 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


are  to  be  distinguished  from  the  other  beetles  by  their  bealc-like  pro- 
longation of  the  mouth  parts.  Under  the  group  several  well  defined 
families  are  recognizable.  Some  of  these  are  the  Rhtnchitid^  with  the 
red  Rose-weevil  as  a  type;  the  Otiobhtnohid^  with  the  Imbricated  Snout 


Fio.  147.— Hellgraraite  P'ly:  3,  larva;  ft,  pupa;  c,  male  imago;  rf,  head  of   female.— [Redrawn 
for  Uiley.] 

beetle  as  a  type;  the  Cubculionid^  with  the  Plum  Curculio  and  Gouger 
as  types;  the  Calandrid.e  with  the  Grain  and  Rice  weevils  and  the  "Bill- 
bugs"  as  types;  and  the  Scolytid^  with  the  Bark-beetles  as  types.  Some 
of  these  insects  are  shown  in  the  illustrations  from  143  to  146.  Others 
are  described  and  figured  in  my  various  reports  made  to  the  state  socie- 
tias  of  Horticulture  and  Agriculture. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  79 

ORDER  XL    NEVROFTERA.— {Nerve-winged  Insects) 

This  order  as  now  limited  by  most  systematic  writers  is  composed 
of  comparatively  few  species.  These  are  distinguished  from  the  other  in- 
^  ects  which  are  usually  classed  here  by  having  the  larvas  active,  the  pupa 
quiescent,  and  the  imago  provided  with  two  pairs  of  rather  large  many- 
veined  wings.  A  good  type  of  the  order  is  shown  herewith  in  Pig.  147. 
It  is  shown  life  size  as  larva,  pupa,  and  imago.  The  mouth  parts  of  this 
insect,  which  is  called  Conjdalis  cornutus,  are  well  developed  for  seizing 
and  killing  its  prey  which  consists  of  other  insects  and  even  fishes  of 
small  size.  The  larvae  live  in  swift  running  streams  where  they  hide 
under  stones  and  other  objects  that  afford  shelter  to  them.  As  will  be 
seen  by  reference  to  the  illustration,  this  larva  is  provided  with  gill-like 
appendages  for  extracting  air  from  the  water.  When  full  grown,  which 
requires  nearly  three  years'  time,  these  larvae  leave  the  water  and  crawl 
upon  the  bank  where  they  construct  earthern  cocoons  and  transform  to 
the  pupa  state  (See  Fig.  147,  6),  and  in  about  ten  days  to  two  weeks  later 
to  the  perfect  insect.  The  two  sexes  of  the  Hellgramite  Fly,  as  the  in- 
sect is  called,  are  quite  different.  The  male  has  its  mandibles  changed 
into  the  form  of  strong,  curved  horns,  while  in  the  female  they  remain 
normal. 

A  number  of  others  of  these  large,  aquatic  Neuroptera  are  to  be  met  with 
in  different  parts  of  the  country.  In  some  localities  they  are  quite  numer- 
ous and  are  used  by  anglers  as  bait  for  trout  and  other  fish.  In  Colorado 
and  on  the  Pacific  slope  are  found  some  very  peculiar  appearing  repre- 
sentatives of  this  same  family  (Sialid^)  of  Neuropterous  insects.  They 
have  the  prothorax  long  and  cylindrical,  the  head  broad  and  quite  large, 
and  the  female  is  provided  with  a  long  curved  ovipositor.  These  in- 
sects are  much  smaller  than  the  one  figured  above,  and  the  larvae  are 
said  to  live  under  bark  of  trees  instead  of  in  the  water.  This  assertion 
however,  may  be  a  mistake  since  the  insects  are  far  too  common  to  per- 
mit of  such  a  habit  in  their  larvae. 

The  "Mealy-winged"  Neuroptera  (CoMOPTEEYGiDiE)  are  all  rather 
small  creatures,  the  larva?  of  which  are  supposed  to  feed  upon  plant-lice. 
The  imagoes  are  fairly  common  during  the  months  of  June  and  July 
when  they  can  be  collected  by  beating  the  foliage  of  trees  of  various 
kinds. 

In  the  family  (Hemerobiinid^)  are  several  divisions  of  the  larval  hab- 
its which  differ  much  although  they  are  probably  carnivorous.  Some  of 
them  live  in  the  water  while  others  live  upon  land  and  make  a  business 
of  eating  plant-lice.  We  have  no  illustration  of  any  of  these  insects  to 
present  here  for  the  reader's  inspection.  One  form  of  these  insects  is 
known  by  the  popular  name  "  Shad-fly." 

Probably  one  of  the  most  characteristic  as  well  as  common  forms  of 
the  Neuroptera  is  shown  in  Fig.  148.     It  is   known  as  "Laeewing"  or 


80 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


"Aphis-lion.'"  There  are  quite  a  large  number  of  these  lace-wings  to  be 
found  in  this  country.  Professor  Comstock  has  the  following  to  say  of 
these  insects  in  his  introduction  to  Entomology,  pa.?e  225:  "  The  lace- 
winged  flies  are  very 
common  insects  through- 
out the  summer  months 
upon  herbage  and  the  foli- 
age of  trees.  They  are 
usually  a  light  green  or 
yellowish.     While   alive 

Fio.  148.— Lace-wing:  a,  egga  on  leaf;  b,  larva;  c,  d,  mature  ...  i     •    ui. 

insect.— [After  Riley.]  their  eyes  are  very  bright; 

and  on  this  account  they  have  also  received  the  popular  name  of  Golden- 
eyed  Flies.  Some  species,  when  handled,  emit  a  very  disagreable  odor.  A 
remarkable  fact  in  the  history  of  these  insects  is  the  way  in  which  the  fe- 
male cares  for  her  eggs.  When  about  to  lay  an  egg  she  emits  from  the 
end  of  her  body  a  minute  drop  of  a  tenacious  substance;  this  is  drawn  out 
into  a  slender  thread  by  lifting  the  abdomen;  then  an  egg  is  placed  on  the 
summit  of  this  thread.  The  thread  dries  at  once  and  firmly  holds  the 
egg  in  mid  air.  These  threads  are  usually  .4  to  .6  of  an  inch  in  length, 
and  occur  singly  or  in  groups.  It  is  probable  that  this  placing  of  the  eggs 
on  stalks  protects  them  from  the  ravages  of  predaceous  insects,  includ- 
ing the  Aphis-lions  themselves.  When  the  young  Aphis-lion  hatches  it 
crawls  down  the  thread  that  held  the  egg  up,  and  starts  in  quest  of  some 
small  insect  or  egg  which  it  can  feed  upon.  While  doing  so  it  may 
wander  through  a  forest  of  egg-stalks,  not  observing  the  eggs  far  above  it. 
The  larvae  are  spindle-form,  and  have  long,  sickle-shaped  mandibles. 
They  feed  chiefly  on  plant-lice,  but  will  eat  such  other  insects  as  they  can 
overcame.  The  cocoon  in  which  the  pupa  state  is  passed  is  spherical,  and 
composed  of  dense  layers  of  silk.  In  order  to  emerge  the  insect  cuts  a 
circular  lid  from  one  side  of  the  cocoon." 

The  "  Ant-lions "  comprise  another  family  of  the  Neuroptera,  viz., 
Mykmeleonid^.  These  are  also  very  interesting  creatures  for  study.  As 
will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  figure  (No.  149)  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
imago  bears  some  re- 
semblance to  this  stage 
of  the  Odonata  ;  but  of 
course  this  resemblance 
is  only  accidental,  as 
will  be  seen  by  a  closer 
examination  of  the  fig- 
ures or  of  specimens  of 

the  insects  themselves.  F>»-  149.— Ant-llon  and  larva.— [After  Packard.] 

More  than  twenty-five  of  these  insects  have  been  described  from  North 
America.  The  larvae  bear  a  general  resemblance  in  their  appearance  to 
those  of  the  "Lace-wings"  and  allied  groups;  but  their  habits  differ 
greatly  from  those  of  the  larvae  of  groups  referred  to.  These  "  Ant-lion  " 
larvae  live  in  sandy  places  where  they  burrow  into  the  loose  sand  an4 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


81 


construct  pits  for  themselves  by  digging  away  the  sand  until  the  least 
disturbance  will  cause  the  loose  particles  to  roll  to  the  bottom.  When  a 
wandering  ant  chances  to  step  over  the  brink  of  this  pit  some  particles 
give  way  and  roll  to  the  bottom,  notifying  the  hidden  proprietor  of  the 
approach  of  prey.  A  vigorous  digging  on  the  part  of  the  ant-lion  now 
draws  down  sand  and  the  ant  into  the  jaws  of  the  enemy.  When  these 
Ant-lions  are  ready  to  transform  they  spin  for  themselves  spherical 
cocoons,  which  are  composed  of  sand  and  silk.  A  very  interesting  ob- 
ject lesson  can  be  had  by  securing  some  of  these  Ant-lions  and  placing 
them  in  a  shallow  dish  of  sand. 

The  last  of  the  representatives  of  the  order  Neuroptera  that  will  be 
mentioned  here  is  the  one  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration  (Fig. 
150.)    This  insect,  as  will  at  once  be  seen,  resembles  the  MantidaD  among 


Fio.  150.— i»/aDt;spa.— [After  Packard.]         Fig.  151.— Larva  of  AfanWspa.— [After  Packard.] 

the  Orthoptera.  Like  them  it  is  also  predacious  in  food-habits,  using 
its  front  pair  of  legs  for  grasping  and  holding  its  food.  Aside  from  this 
resemblance  in  the  front  legs  aud  the  prothorax  the  other  structure  is 
distinctly  neuropteroid.  The  larvse  are  more  or  less  "grub-like  "  (see  Fig. 
151)  during  part  of  their  existence.  The  life-history  of  Mantispa  has 
been  studied  by  Brauer,  who  obtained  eggs  from  a  female  kept  in  a  breed- 
ing cage.  "These  eggs  were  rose-red  in  color  and  fastened  upon  stalks 
like  the  eggs  of  Chrysopa.  The  eggs  were  laid  in  July,  and  the  larvae 
emerge  twenty-one  days  later.  The  young  larvae  are  very  agile  creatures, 
with  a  long,  slender  body,  well  developed  legs,  and  long,  slender  antennas. 
They  pass  the  winter  without  food.  In  the  spring  they  find  their  way 
into  the  egg-sacks  of  the  above  named  spiders  (Lycosa).  Here  they  feed 
upon  the  young  spiders,  and  the  body  becomes  proportionately  thicker. 
Later  the  larva  molts  and  undergoes  a  remarkable  change  in  form,  be- 
coming what  is  known  as  the  second  larva.  In  this  stage  the  body  is 
much  swollen,  resembling  in  form  the  larva  of  a  bee.    The  legs  are  much 


8'2 


A  PKELlMINAliY  INTKODUCTION 


reduced  in  size,  the  antennae  are  short,  and  the  head  is  very  small.  When 
fully  grown  this  larva  measures  three  to  four  inches  in  length.  It  then 
spins  a  cocoon  and  changes  to  a  pupa  within  the  skin  of  the  larva.  Later 
the  laival  skin  is  cast;  and,  finally,  after  being  in  the  cocoon  about  a 
month,  the  pupa  becomes  active,  pierces  the  cocoon  and  the  egg-sack, 
crawls  about  for  a  time,  and  then  changes  to  the  adult  state." 

ORDER  XII.  MKCOPTERA.—iScorpion  Flies.) 
The  illustration  presented  herewith  represents  the  small  order  of 
insects  that  has  been  separated  from  the  old  Neuroptera  under  the  name 
of  Mecoptera.  These  insects  are  known  by  the  popular  name  of  "  Scor- 
pion-flies." They  can  be  described  as  bearing  some  resemblance  to  the 
"  Daddy  Long  Legs  "  among  the  Diptera,  only  that  they  are  provided  with 
four  instead  of  two  wings.  They  have  both  pairs  of  wings  similar,  long 
and  narrow,  and  provided  with  rather  many  longitudinal  and  a  few  cross- 
veins.  The  prothorax  is  small; 
the  middle  and  hind  wingg 
are  much  larger  and  bear  the 
wings.  The  abdomen  is  rather 
long  and  slender,  with  the  last 
joint  enlarged  and  bearing  at 
the  extremity  a  clasping  ar- 
rangement in  the  male  of 
Panorpa  whence  the  name  of 
"  Scorpion-fly."  The  terminal 
segments  of  the  female  body 
are  small  and  tapering,  and 
bear  a  pair  of  short,  thread- 
like organs.  The  insect  which 
is  shown  in  the  figure  belongs 
to  the  genus  Bittacus,  and  has 
Fio.  i52.-iJ,ttar«s.-[Originai.]  ^^^  abdomen  the  same  shape 

in  both  sexes.  It  is  the  representatives  of  this  last  named  genus  that 
most  resemble  the  "daddy  long  legs." 

The  mouth-parts  of  these  insects  are  arranged  for  biting,  but  are  at 
the  end  of  a  kind  of  beak  not  unlike  that  to  be  seen  in  the  "  weevils  "  or 
snout  beetles.  A  number  of  other  characters  might  be  mentioned  as 
belonging  to  these  insects. 

"The  larvae  *  *  are  caterpillar-like,  with  the  bead  small,  the  feet 
short  and  small,  and  there  are  eight  abdominal  feet.  *  *  The 
metamorphoses  are  complete,  the  pupa  being  somewhat  like  those  of  the 
lowest  moths,  the  limbs  being  free." — (Packard). 

There  is  but  little  said  in  our  American  books  about  the  food-habits  of 
the  different  members  of  the  order.  It  is  supposed,  however,  that  the 
imagoes  at  least  are  predaceous,  feeding  u^pon  other  insects  which  they 
capture.     Of  the  larval  food  not  so  much  is  known. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


83 


Some  of  the  species  of  the  genus  Boreus  are  found  upon  the  snow  in 
midwinter. 

ORDER  XIII  TRlCnOFTBRk.— {Hairy-winged  Insects-Caddis  flies.) 
The  members  of  this  rather  small  order  are  very  interesting  insects 
because  of  the  habits  of  the  larvae.  These  latter  live  in  the  water,  and 
are  both  vegetable  and  animal  feeders.  They  construct  cases  of  different 
kinds  and  forms,  each  species   making  a  particular  pattern.    In  fact, 


Fig.  153.— Caddis  Fly:  a.  case;  b,  larva;  c.  pupa.— [a,  6,  d.  after  Packard;  c,  after  Hyatt 
and  Arms.] 

the  cases  are  sufficiently  permanent  in  form  with  these  insects  to  per- 
mit of  their  being  used  as  a  means  for  classifying  the  larval  forms. 

The  Caddis  Flies,  as  the  perfect  insects  are  called,  resemble  some  of 
the  moths  in  their  general  appearance.  They  have  the  wings  provided 
with  but  few  cross-veins,  and  more  or  less  thickly  covered  with  hairs, 
hence  the  name  "  Trichoptera  "  which  signifies  "  hair- wings,"  The  head 
is  small,  with  widely  separated  eyes;  the  three  thoracic  rings  are  distinct, 
the  meso-thorax  being  largest  in  conformity  with  the  greatest  use  of  the 
front  wings  in  flight.  The  mouth-parts,  although  of  the  biting  type,  are 
small  and  weak,  the  insects  probably  taking  but  little,  if  any,  food  in  this 
stage.  It  has  been  observed  that  some  of  the  more  delicate  white  forms 
found  here  in  Nebraska  show  indications  of  having  their  abdomen  more 
or  less  filled  with  green  vegetable  matter.  The  antennae  are  very  long 
and  thread-like. 

The  larvae  of  these  Caddis-flies,  as  stated  above,  are  aquatic,  and  con- 
struct cases  of  bits  of  sticks,  hollow  grass,  and  weed-stems,  grains  of 
coarse  sand  and  small  gravel,  in  which  they  live.  These  cases  are  either 
fastened  to  some  object  or  are  carried  or  dragged  about  by  their  occu- 
pants over  the  bottoms  of  quiet  pools  and  even  rapid-running  streams. 
The  larvae  are  distantly  caterpillar-like  in  their  appearance,  but,  as  will 
be  seen  by  reference  to  the  illustration  (Fig.  153,  b)  have  rather  long  legs 
all  of  which  are  directed  forwards.  The  anal  or  tail  end  is  provided  with 
a  pair  of  strong,  jointed  pro-legs  which  are  used  by  the  insect  in  retain- 
ing a  hold  upon  the  case  in  which  it  lives.  These  larvae  are  provided 
along  their  sides  with  gill-like  tufts  of  hair  or  filaments  for  extractino 


84 


A  rilELIMINAEY  INTliODUCTION 


the  necessary  oxygen  from  the  water.  Various  devices  are  resorted  to 
by  different  species  of  Caddis  fly  larva9  in  the  construction  of  their  cases 
and  for  the  securing  of  tlieir  food.  In  some  instances  much  intelligence 
seems  to  be  displayed  by  them.  Hyatt  and  Arms,  in  their  little  book, 
'Insecta,"  describe  and  figure  one  species  that  occurs  in  streams  about 
Boston,  Massachusetts.  They  say  of  it  that  "One  of  these  makes  appar- 
ently a  tunnel  and  attaches  it  to  a  stone.  The  insect,  however,  econo- 
mizes material  by  allowing  the  stone  to  serve  as  the  lower  part  of  the 
tunnel.  Close  to  the  opening,  which  is  towards  the  current,  the  larva 
erects  a  vertical  frame-work  and  across  it  stretches  a  net.  The  food 
brought  down  by  the  current  is  caught  in  the  meshes  of  the  net,  and  the 
insect,  without  wholly  leaving  the  protection  of  its  house,  is  able  to  en- 
joy the  meal  its  ingenuity  has  secured."  When  ready  to  transform  to 
the  pupa  stage,  these  larvae  close  the  end  of  the  case  and  sometimes  spin 
a  light  cocoon  of  silk.  The  pupa  stage  of  Caddis  flies  resembles  that  of 
the  moths,  only  the  limbs  are  always  free,  while  in  the  moths  they  are 
not. 


155.— Fanessa  ant/opa.— [After  J.  G,  Wood.] 


Fig.  156.—  a,  larva,  and  b, 

pupa  of  Vanessa aatiopa, 
—[a  after  Scudder;  b,  af- 
ter Harris.] 

and  Moths. — Scale- 


ORDER  XIV.    LEPIDOPTERA.— (BM«er^z 

winged  Insects.) 
The  members  of  this  order  can  readily  be  separated  from  all  other  in- 
sects by  means  of  their  scale-covered  wings  and  bodies,  the  peculiar  de- 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


85 


velopment  of  the  mouth  parts,  and  the  form  and  transformations  of  their 
larvae.  The  group  is  almost  without  exception  plant-feeding,  and  its 
members  are  therefore  to  be  classed  as  injurious. 

These  insects  on  account  or  their  attractive  colors  and  the  compara- 
tive ease  with  which  their  larvaB  can  be  reared  in  confinement  have  been 
studied  more  than  those  of  any  other  order.    Their  life  period,  too,  is  com- 


Fio.  157.— Hackberry  Butterfly.— [After  Riley]  Fipr.  i5S.—Tbecl,i  calanus.- 

[After  Scudder.] 

paratively  short  in  the  majority  of  cases;  which,  in  addition  to  their  above- 
ground  habits,  also  adds  to  the  ease  with  which  they  can  be  studied.  A 
few  of  the  forms  are  to  be  considered  of  commercial  value;  as  for  exam- 
ple, the  silk-worms.  A  very  few  also  destroy  scale  insects  and  plant-lice, 
and  for  this  reason  must  be  admitted  among  beneficial  insects.  Aside 
from  these  few  exceptions  we  are  compelled  to  look  upon  the  Lepidoptera 
as  enemies,  notwithstanding  their  beautiful  colors  and  graceful  forms  as 
imagoes. 

The  order  is  readily  separable  into  two  well-defined  groups  know  as 


-PierlB  rapae:  a,  larva; 
-[Riley]. 


b,  chrysalis. 


female.— [After 


Rhopalocera  and  Heteeooera.  The  former  includes  those  forms  known 
popularly  as  "  moths  "  and  the  latter  those  which  have  received  the  name 
"  butterflies." 


86 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


The  metamorphosis  in  these  insects  is  complete,  i.  e.,  the  larvae  or 
caterpillars  are  active,  the  pupae  or  chrysalids  inactive,  and  the  changes 
between  the  different  stages  great.  The  caterpillars  vary  much  among 
themselves  in  appearances.  Some  are  smooth,  others  tuberculated  and 
covered  with  hairs  and  spines.  Some  feed  in  colonies,  other  are  solitary. 
Many  of  them  feed  openly  upon  the  foliage,  while  some  draw  leaves  to- 
gether and  in  that  manner  protect  themselves  to  a  certain  extent  from 
enemies.  When  mature,  the  devices  adopted  by  lepidopterous  larvae  pre- 
paratory to  pupating  are  also  variable.  Some  spin  cocoons  of  silk,  some 
enter  the  earth  and  construct  neat  cells  for  themselves,  and  still  others 
make  the  change  in  the  open  air  without  any  protection  whatsoever. 

In  the  selection  of  food-plants  for  their  larvae  the  parent  insects  also 
exhibit  various  degrees  of  intelligence.  Some  butterflies  select  their 
host  plants  unerringly,  and  in  doing  this  the  future  life  of  their  progeny 
is  assured,  so  far  at  least  as  their  food  supply  is  concerned.  Others  drop 
their  eggs  upon  the  ground  and  trust  to  the  larvae  for  finding  their  food. 


-Coliaa  enrvtbeme,  male,  both  surfaces.- 
[After  Scudder.] 


Fig.  102. — Colias  eurytheme,  fe- 
male.—[After  Scndder.] 


The  Lepidoptera  probably  suffer  from  the  attacks  of  parasites  more 
than  any  other  group  of  insects.  They  are  attacked  both  in  the  Qgg  state 
and  as  larvae  by  a  host  of  Hymenoptera,  and  as  larvae  by  Diptera.  For 
this  reason  these  insects  seldom  become  excessively  numerous.  One  or 
two  exceptions  are  the  plagues  of  "army- worms"  and  ■"web-worms." 


Fio.  163 — Anthocbaria genutia.—\_Klter  I 
der.] 


Fio.  1G4.— Hcsperia  montirag'a.— [After 
Scudder.] 


HYiOVKLiOGERk.— {Butterflies.) 

The  "Butterflies"  or  day -flying  Lepidoptera  can  be  readily  distin- 
guished from  the  "Moths"  or  night-fliers  by  several  well-marked  charac- 
teristics where  typical  forms  from  each  group  are  selected  for  the  pur- 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


87 


pose.  When  this  is  true  the  butterfly  is  an  insect  with  knobbed  antennae, 
rather  small  and  smooth  abdomen,  and  that  folds  its  wings  with  their 
upper  faces  touching  above  the  body.  They  are  principally  diurnal  in 
their  movements  and  frequenters  of  flowers  which  they  visit  for  nectar. 

The  division  is  separated  into  a 
<N  fi        ^^^^  number  of  families,  and  the  United 

\         y   jt^t^^S   ^^^^^^  ^^^  '(h-A.t  portion  of  America 
^     >^u>/^  ,^kM|»agp     north  of  us  contains  about  650  de- 
^^  ^^^^BfmJB^Sm       scribed  species. 
HL^H^^H^SB^  I'be    family  Nymphalid^    con- 

i^B  '■^^BHI^^  tains  a  number  of  our  well-known 

/^B  wi^^^^^^P  butterflies  and  is  well  represented 

^B     T  ^^^^^p  ^^  ^^^  insect   shown  herewith  in 

^M  ^^K^  ^^^'  ^^^'     ^^  '^^  known  as  Euptoieta 

W  ^^P  Claudia  to  the  entomologist.    Both 

-[After  Scudder.]  Surfaces  of  the  wings  are  shown 
in  the  illustration.  The  detached 
wings  represent  the  under  side.  Another  member  of  the  family,  along 
with  its  larva  and  chrysalis,  is  shown  in  Figs.  155  and  156.  This  last  spe- 
cies is  occasionally  quite  numerous,  at  which  times  it  becomes  destruc- 
tive to  the  foliage  of  the  willows  and  elms.  Still  another  representative 
of  the  family  is  the  one  known  as  the  "Hackberry  Butterfly."  It  is 
shown  in  Fig.  157.  These  butterflies  have  been  described  more  fully  in 
several  of  my  former  reports  to  the  Horticultural  and  Agricultural 
societies. 

The  family  Lyc^nid^  is  made  up  of  rather  small  butterflies  that  are 
somewhat  varied  in  their  appearance.  The  one  figured  at  158  will,  how- 
ever, give  the  reader  a  general  idea  as  to  their  identity.  It  is  called 
Thecla  calanus.  The  larvaB  of  this  family  of  butterflies  are  usually 
brightly  colored  and  slug-like  in  form.  Their  food-habits  are  also  quite 
variable.    The  little  blue  butterflies  belong  here. 

The  family  of  butterflies  known  as  Papilionid^  contains  a  number  of 


Fio.  \Qf>.—Epargyrevs  tltyrua.- 


Fio.  16G.— Larva  of  P.  «nrnas.— [After  Sanndera.]  Fio.    167.— Pnpa  or 

chrvsalis     of     P. 

tarous. [After 

Glover.] 

familiar  forms  in  this  country.  The  various  kinds  of  "cabbage- worms" 
(Pieris),  the  sulphur-yellow  butterflies  and  the  swallow-tails  are  classed 
here.  Some  of  the  forms  are  shown  in  the  illustrations  numbered  159  to 
163.  The  Rape  Butterfly  {Pieris  rapce),  which  is  one  of  our  most  destruc- 
tive cabbage  pests,  is  shown  as  larva  and  chrysalis  at  Fig.  159,  and  as 


88  A  PEELIMINAEY  INTRODUCTION 

imago  in  Fig.  160.  The  Sulphar-yellow  butterflies  so  common  about 
clover  fields  and  upon  the  prairies,  are  very  well  represented  by  the 
species  which  is  figured  in  161  and  162.  The  larvae  of  these  butterflies 
belonging  to  the  genus  Colias  feed  on  leguminous  plants,  which  they 
sometimes  greatly  injure.    Still  another  of  these  butterflies  is  shown  in 


Fio.  16S.—Papilio  turaus.— [After  Saunders.] 

Fig.  163.  This  last  mentioned  is  known  as  Antliocharis  genutia,  one  of 
our  early  spring  forms,  that  occurs  along  the  Missouri  river  bluffs  in  the 
timbered  portion  of  the  state.  Its  larvae  feed  on  various  kinds  of  pep- 
pergrass  and  other  Cruciferae.  The  swallow-tails  that  are  generally 
placed  in  the  genus  Papilio  are  rather  common  insects  in  most  parts  of 
the  state.  The  one  shown  herewith  (Fig.  168)  is  our  commonest  species 
and  has  been  described  several  times  in  former  reports  and  in  bulletins 
from  the  Experiment  Station.^  Its  larva  feeds  upon  a  number  of  our 
trees.  Other  species  are  fond  of  the  various  umbelliferae,  hence  their 
striped  caterpillars  can  often  be  found  on  parsnips,  carrots,  and  allied 
garden  plants. 

The  "  Skipper  butterflies  "  (family  Hesperid^)  are  well  represented  by 
the  two  illustrations  numbered  164  and  165.  The  former  of  these  is 
Hesperia  monfivaga,  the  common  gray  and  white  skipper;  and  the  latter 
theTityrus  Skipper  (Epargyreus  tityrus).  The  larva  of  the  first  feeds  on 
hollyhock  and  other  plants  belonging  to  the  Mallow  family;  that  of  the 
latter  chooses  the  foliage  of  various  locust  trees  and  their  allies  for  food. 
Most  of  the  "  skippers,"  however,  are  grass  feeders  in  their  caterpillar 
state. 

HETEROCERA.— (Jlfo^/is.) 

The  moths  or  night  fliers  among  Lepidoptera  are  separated  from 
butterflies  by  a  number  of  characters.     Some  of  these  are  the  thread- 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


89 


like,  feathered,  and  other  shaped  autennae  that  end  in  a  point  instead  of 
a  knob;  the  hairy  bodies,  etc.  A  good  type  of  the  group,  and  one  that  can 
most  readily  be  obtained,  is  the  Cecropia  Silk-worm  Moth  {Attacus  cecro- 


Fio.  lS9.—Attacu8  cecropia,  male  moth.— [After  Riley.] 
pia)  which  is  shown  natural  size  in  Fig.  169.     It  is  a  member  of  the  family 
SATUBNiiD^i:,  one  of  the  group  of  silk-spinning  Lepidoptera.    Its  larva  is 


90 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


the  very  large,  rough  green  "worm"  that  is  so  often  met  with  upon  Maple 
and  Boxelder  trees.     The  cocoon  of  an  allied  species  in  which  the  larva 


[After 


Fif}.    171. — Chrysalis     of    American 
Silk-worm.— [After  Riley.] 


changes  to  the  chrysalis  and  remains  during  winter  is  figured  at  170, 
while  the  chrysalis  of  the  same  species  is  shown  in  the  illustration  num- 
bered 171. 

The  large  " hawk-moths ''  that  are  the  parents  of  "tobacco-worms" 
belong  to  the  family  Sphingid^.  These  insects  can  at  once  be  recognized 
by  referring  to  the  accompanying  figure  (Pig.  172)  in  which  the  larva  and 


Fig.  172.— The  Osnge-Oronfie  Sphinx  (Ceratomia  Hageni):  a,  larvae;  b,  moth,  pale  or  normal 
form;  c,  front  wing  of  dark  variety,  natural  size.-  [After  lliley.] 

imago  of  one  of  our  common  species  is  illustrated.  There  are  upwards 
Oi  seventy  distinct  species  of  this  family  found  in  America  north  of  the 
Mexican  boundary.     Some  of  the  species  are  very  destructive  to  the 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


91 


plants  upon  which  they  feed,  and  hence  are  to  bo  classed  among  the  in- 
jurious insects  of  the  country. 

The  moths  that  belong  to  the  family  Sesiid^  are  very  beautiful  objects, 
and  may  readily  be  mistaken  by  the  untrained  individual  for  wasps  or 


^m^^^^ 


Fio.  173.— The  Sixteen-lepged  Maple  Fig.  174.— The  Green-striped  Maple  Worm,  or  Ro.sy 

Borer  {^geria  acerni):  a,  larva;  b.  Forest  Caterpillar  {Anisota  rubicunda):  a,  larva; 

cocoon;  c,  male  moth;  r/,  pupa  case  b,   pupa;   c,  female  moth,  all  natural  size — [After 

—natural  size  —[After  Kiley.]  Kiley], 

bees  on  account  of  their  bright  colors  and  clear  wings.     The  larvae  of  all 
of  them  are  borers  in  the  stems  of  plants.    Some  of  them  being  confined 


Fig.  175  —The  Forest  Tent-caterpillar:  a,  effsrs;  b, 
female  moth;  c,  maKnified  upper  view  of  eggr;  d, 
same,  side  view. — [After  Kiley.] 


Fio.  176. -Larva  of  Forest  Tent^ 
caterpillar.- [After  Saunders.] 


in  their  attacks  to  herbaceous,  while  others  work  in  the  hardest  of  wood. 
One  of  these  latter  (the  Sixteen-legged  Maple  Borer)  is  shown  in  Fig.  173. 
The  squash  and  peach-tree  borers  belong  in  this  family. 


92 


A  TRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


The  family  known  as  AROTiiDiE  is  represented  in  this  state  by  a  num- 
ber of  species.  The  larvae  of  these  insects  are  more  or  less  hairy  and  the 
moths  are  rather  compact,  and  well  covered  by  tufts  of  hair.    They  are 


Fio.  177.— Cocoon  of  Forest  Tent-caterpillar.— [After  Saunders.] 

rather  prettily  colored  as  moths  and  caterpillars,  and  are  very  general 
feeders.  The  Isabella  Moth  is  figured  along  with  its  larva  and  pupa  in 
the  illustration  numbered  185. 


^^^"^^W^/S^S^..*^!^ 


f 


FiQ.  178.— PrioDjxtos  robinise:  larva,  chrysalis,  pnpa,  imago— male  and  female.— [After  Riley.] 


We  have  in  this  country  several  species  of  moths  that  belong  to  a 
family  called  BoMBYCiDiE  by  the  entomologists.    The  caterpillars  of  these 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


93 


insects  are  well  represented  by  the  species  known  as  the  Forest  Tent 
Caterpillar  (CUsiocampa  distria)  which  is  shown  in  figures  175,  176,  and 
177.  These  tent  caterpillars  are  very  destructive  to  the  foliage  of  trees 
when  ever  they  appear  in  large  numbers.  Some  species  are  social,  and 
spin  unsightly  webs  in  the  forks  of  the  trees  which  they  infest. 

In  the  illustration  numbered  178  is  shown  one  of  the  most  destructive  of 
all  our  moths.  It  is  known  as  the  Locust  Carpenter  Moth  (family  Cossid^), 
although  it  is  by  no  means  confined  to  this  one  tree  in  its  injuries. 
It  also  attacks  numerous  other  trees,  the  trunks  and  larger  branches  of 
which  it  bores  full  of  large  holes  that  greatly  weaken  them.  A  single 
borer  ofter  kills  a  large  tree  in  the  course  of  its  life.  These  borers  are 
at  least  three  years  in  attaining  their  growth.  A  reasonably  full  account 
of  this  insect's  life-history  has  been  given  in  the  fifth  report  of  the  United 
States  Entomological  Commission. 

The  family  of  "  Owlet  Moths  "  (Noctuid^)  is  a  very  extensive  one  in 
this  country.  It  can  be  represented  by  one  of  our  "cut-worms"  that  are 
so  destructive  that  they  have  not  escaped  the  vigilance  of  any  of  us  even 

though  we  live  in  cities  and  towns 
instead  of  the  country.  Many  of 
them  have  been  mentioned  from 
time  to  time  in  the  various  reports 
of  the  Experiment  Station  and  the 
state  societies.  One  of  them  is 
illustrated  herewith  (see  Fig.  179). 
The  Army-worm  and  allies  also  are 
representatives  of  the  family. 

The  family  Geometric^  con- 
tains certain  moths,  the  larvae  of 
which  are  known  popularly  as 
"  measuring-worms,"  on  account  of 
their  peculiar  looping  locomotion. 
The  Canker-worms  and  Span- 
worms  are  also  typical  examples 
of  the  group. 

The   ToRTRiciD^  or  "  leaf-roll- 
ers "  is  also    quite  a  large  family 
of   moths  that  is  of  considerable 
Fio.  V!9.-Mamestra  cbenopodii:  a.  b,  larva;  economic  importance  here  in  the 
c,  pupa;  d.  moth;  e.  wing  of  same-eniarKBd.  state  as  well   as    elsewhere.     The 

—[After  Riley.] 

TiNEiDJS  and  Pyralid^  should  also  be  represented  in  a  work  of  this 
kind  ;  but  I  have  already  taken  up  too  much  of  the  space  allotted  to  me 
for  this  paper. 

ORDER   XV.    HYMENOPTERA.— (Sees,    Wasps,   Ants,   Parasites 
and  Saw-flies.) 

The  insects  which  comprise  this  order  can  be  distinguished  at  once 
from  all  others  by  their  four  membranous  wings  which  are  furnished 


94 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


with  comparatively  few  veins ;  their  well  developed  mouth-parts,  their 
hard,  compact  bodies,  and  their  sharp  stings  and  ovipositors.  The  order, 
as  a  whole,  is  one  of  great  interest  both  to  the  systematist  and  to  the 

economic  entomologist,  and 
should  be  given  much  more 
attention  than  it  is  possible 
to  give  it  here.  The  seem- 
ing intelligence  exhibited  by 
many  of  its  members  in  their 
life-habits  might  be  made  the 
theme  for  an  extended  paper 
alone  ;  while  the  great  varia- 
tion in  structure  that  is  to  be 
observed  among  the  forms 
found  even  in  the  species  of 
a  single  family  could  be  made 
to  supply  very  interesting  reading.  While  the  order  contains  avast  num- 
ber of  species  that  are  of  moderately  large  size,  and  which  are  more  or 


Fio,  ISO.— PlutelJa  cruciferarum:  a,  larva;  cf,  pnpa;  e, 
cocoon;  f,  imago — all  enlarged. — [After  Riley.] 


Fio.  181. — Copidryaa  gloveri:  a,  moth; 
larva.— [Geo.  Marx.] 


Fig.  1S2.— Las-oa  opercularis  aud  cocoon.— [Af- 
ter Hubbard.] 


less  familiar  to  most  of  us,  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of  these  insects 
are  very  small  and  are  known  only  to  a  few  specialists  even  among  en- 
tomologists. 

The  order  Hymenoptera  is  divided  naturally  into  two  sections,  viz., 
Teeebrantia  and  Aculeata.  The  members  of  the  former  group  are  dis- 
tinguished by  "  having  the  abdomens  of  the  females  furnished  with  an 
instrument  employed  as  a  saw  or  borer  for  depositing  the  eggs."  Those 
of  the  latter  by  "having  the  abdomen  of  the  females  (and  workers) 
armed  with  a  sting  connected  with  a  poison  reservoir,  the  antennae  of  the 
males  thirteen-jointed,  and  of  the  females  twelve-jointed." — (Cresson.) 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


95 


The  family  Tenthredinid.e  or  "  saw-flies  "  comprises  a  rather  exten- 
sive group  of  leaf -feeding  Hymenoptera,  the  larvae  of  which  are  provided 
with  legs  and  resemble  more  or  less  closely  some  of  the  caterpillars  of 
the  Lepidoptera.    Cresson  says  ''The  anterior  tibiae  have  two  apical  spurs, 


Fig.  183.— Scale-eating  Tineid.— [Af- 
ter Hubbard. J 


Fig.  1S4. — Pionea  rimosellis:  a,  larva; 
b,  pupa;  c,  uioth. — [After  JUIey.] 


1S5  —A  ret  in  Isabella;  a.  larva;  b,  pupa;  c, 
female  moth.— [After  Kiley.] 


and  the  ovipositor  consists  of  two  compressed  saw-like  plates  applied 
against  each  other,  and  inclosed  in  a  pair  of  outer  sheaths.  In  the  larva 
state  these  insects  are  the  most  injurious  of  all  hymenoptera,  feeding 
upon  the  leaves  of  trees  and  various  plants  and  often  completely  destroy- 
ing the  foilage."  The  large  Willow  Saw-fly  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  186  in 
its  various  stages  is  one  of  our  most  common  and  injurious  species  in  the 
state.  This  insect  reminds  one  not  a  little  of  a  bumble-bee  in  its  general 
appearance.  In  Fig.  187  is  shown  a  second,  but  much  smaller,  species  of 
saw-fly.  This  last  insect  is  an  enemy  to  the  black  locust  tree,  and  is 
known  to  the  entomologist  as  Nematus  siinilaris,  Norton. 

Asa  remedy  against  these  pests  I  would  recommend  the  arsenites, 
London  purple  and  Paris  green,  sprayed  upon  the  foilage  as  directed  for- 
leaf-feeding  caterpillars,  beetles,  etc. 

The  family  Urocerid^  includes  several  species  of  saw-flies  usually 
known  as  "horn-tails  "  that  are  well  represented  by  the  "Pigeon  Tremex  " 
figured  herewith.  (See  Fig.  188).  These  insects  differ  from  the  "  leaf- 
eating "  species  (Phyllophaga)  by  having  the  front  tibiae  provided  with 
but  a  single  instead  of  two  apical  spurs,  and  having  the  ovipositor  fitted 
for  boring  into  solid  wood.  Although  the  larvae  of  these  "horn-tails" 
work  in  and  do  much  harm  to  wood  they  seldom  attack  healthy  trees,  but 
rather  select  sickly  or  dead  timber  in  which  to  deposit  their  eggs.     They 


96 


A  rEELIMINAKY  INTRODUCTION 


are  usually  kept  in  check  by  several  species  of  parasites  with  exceed- 
ingly long  ovipositors  belonging  to  the  family  Ichneumonidje  mentioned 
on  a  succeeding  page. 


Fio.  181).— The  Larse  Willow  Saw-fly  (Cimbex  americana):  a,  willow  leaves  showing  egK- 
blisters  from  above  and  below;  b,  twiff  showinj?  girdliugs;  c,  egg;  d,  newly  hatched  larva; 
e,  e,  full-grown  larvie;  /;  cocoon;  g,  cocoon  cut  open,  with  pupa;  b,  pupa,  side  view;  ;, 
male  fly;  J,  saw  of  female  detached,  side  view;  k,  tip  of  do.;  c,  d,  j,  k,  enlarged,  the  rest 
natural  size.— [After  Uiley.] 

The  "Gall  flies"  belonging  to  the  family  Cynipid^,  are  all  rather  small 
sized  insects  that  can  be  described  as  creatures  which  sting  and  cause 
unnatural  growths  or  galls  to  form  upon  different  plants  in  which  their 
larvaa  live.     The  family  is  rather  an  extensive  one  and  contains  a  large 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


97 


variety  of  forms,  some  of  which  are  wingless.      A  few  species  are"  dimor- 


phic," i.   e.,  they  occur  in  two  forms. 
(Fig.  189  and  190)  will  give  the  reader 


fly:  a,  eggs;  b,  c,  worms; 
e,  cocoon;  /,  fly.— [After 


The  accompanying  illustrations 
a  fair  idea  as  to  the  apearance  of 
these  insects  and  their  galls.  A 
study  of  the  galls  and  their  oc- 
cupants belonging  to  this 
family  is  an  interesting  one. 
Each  species  of  the  flies  pro- 
duces its  own  charasteristic 
gall.  The  various  kinds  of  oak 
seem  to  be  most  subject  to  their 
attacks;  but  a  number  of  other 
plants  are  also  chosen  as  host 
plants  by  some  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  family.  The 
roses  are  among  the  plants  that 
are  most  molested  by  them. 
These  insects  are  best  con- 
trolled by  gathering  and  de- 
stroying the  galls.  They  are 
also  kept  in  check  by  represent- 
atives of  the  families  Chaloid- 
ID^  and  Proototrypid^  men- 
tioned beyond. 

The  very  extensive  family 
ICHNEUMONiD^  of  parasites  is 
one  of  great  importance  since 
the  larvae  of  these  insects  live 


Fig.  187.— Locust  S 
a,  tail  of  the  same; 
Comstock.] 

within  the  bodies  of  caterpillars  and  other  larvae  which  they  destroy. 
A  couple  of  them  are  illustrated  herewith.    (See  Figs.  191  and  192.) 

The  family  Braconid^  is  another  group  of  these  parasitic  Hymenop- 
tera  which  is  of  especial  interest  to  us  on  account  of  the  great  amount  of 
good  which  its  representatives  do  towards  keeping  down  the  insect 
plagues  of  the  country.  The  members  of  the  present  family  are,  as  a 
rule,  much  smaller  than  those  belonging  to  the  previous  one;  and  very 
frequently  a  number  of  individuals  of  a  species  are  reared  from  a  single 
host  insect.  One  of  these  parasites  is  shown  along  with  its  cocoon  in 
Fig.  196,  while  in  Fig.  195  is  represented  a  caterpillar  that  has  been  killed 
by  the  larvae  of  HJwgas  intermedins,  one  of  these  parasites,  and  from 
which  the  winged  or  perfect  insects  have  issued  through  round  holes 
which  they  first  made  in  the  skin  of  their  host. 

In  Figs.  197  and  198  are  shown  two  species  belonging  to  the  very  ex- 
tensive family  of  parasites  known  as  Chaloidid^.  These  insects  are  gen- 
erally very  small  and  many  of  them  are  brilliantly  metallic  in  their 
colors.    The  larger  of  the  two,  the  Mary  Chalcis  fly,  is  a  parasite  of  several 


98 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


of  the  large  silk-worm  moths,  and  the  other  a  parasite  of  the  Grain 
Aphis.  Some  of  these  Chalcid  parasites  are  enemies  of  other  parasites, 
and  others  destroy  the  gall- makers  belonging  to  the  family  Cynipidse. 
Cresson  says  of  the  Chalcididae,  "  The  antennae  are  exceedingly  variable 


Fia.  18S.- 
imaso.- 


Tremex  columha:  a,  mature  larva;  c,  female  pupa;  d,  male  pupa;  e,  female 

-[After  Insect  Life.] 


in  form  in  this  family,  and  are  often  curiously  developed  in  the  males  of 
some  genera,  being  sometimes  short  and  clubbed,  or  the  joints  nodose 
and  ciliated  with  long  hairs;  sometimes  they  are  beautifully  branched, 
the  number  of  joints  varying  from  six  to  fourteen.  The  posterior  femora 
are  sometimes  enormously  swollen  and  toothed  beneath,  and  in  some 
genera  the  intermediate  legs  are  very  long  and  saltatorial,  the  tibial 
spurs  being  unusually  developed;  the  tarsi  although  generally  five-jointed, 
have  sometimes  only  three  or  four  joints.  The  abdomen  is  of  varied  shap3, 
both  in  the  different  species  and  in  the  sexes  of  the  same  species; 
sometimes  it  is  petiolate,  but  usually  sessile  or  subsessite,  or  rather 
connected  to  the  tliorax  by  a  very  short  narrowed  portion  of  its  base;  the 
ovipositor  is  generally  concealed,  although  occasionally  it  is  exserted 
and  longer  than  the  body." 

A  second  very  extensive  family  of  these  minute  parasitic  Hymenop- 
tera  is  that  known  as  Proctotrtpid^.  It  has  been  recently  monographed 
for  this  country  by  William  H.  Ashmead,  who  has  made  a  special  study 
of  these  interesting  minute  creatures. 


TO  THE  iSTUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


99 


Fig.  189.—"  Oak  Apple,"  or  gall  of  Cynipsquercus 
apoDgiSca:  a,  larva;  b,  exit  of  imago. — [After  Riley.] 


Passing  to  the  Hymenoptera  Aculeata  we  will  now  take  up  only  a  few 
examples  from  among  the  many  that  are  classed  here  by  entomologists. 
Being  larger  on  au  averige  than  the  representatives  of  the  Terebrantia, 
they  are  more  familiar  to  us. 

At  the  very  beginning 
of  this  subdivision  of  the 
order  are  placed  several 
families  the  representa- 
tives of  which  are  popu- 
larly termed  ants.  These 
ants  "are  known  by  their 
habit  of  residing  in  more 
or  less  numerous  societies 
under  ground,  whence 
arises  the  necessity  for  a 
great  number  of  individ- 
uals (workers  or  neuters) 
having  the  sexual  organs 
and  instincts  rendered 
abortive,  whereby,  being 
freed  from  the  latter, 
they  are  the  better  fitted  to  perform  the  labors  of  the  community,  for 
which  purpose  they  are  moreover  destitute  of  wings;  whilest  the  males 
and  females  are  much  less  numerous,  possessing  wings,  and  are  produced 
only  for  the  propagation  of  their  species."— (Westwood.)  Besides  the 
workers,  some  species  also  have 
warriors  and  other  special  forms 
for  the  performance  of  certain  du- 
ties belonging  to  the  economy  of 
the  colony  that  could  not  so  well  be 
attended  to  by  the  workers  alone. 
These  ants  have  been  studied  by 
many  special  students,  and  the 
wonderful  stories  that  have  been 
published  regarding  their  life-his- 
tories  and    habits  would   fill    many         fio.  VM.—Csuips  q.  pmn us.  — [After  Uiley.] 

large  volumes.  The  "leaf -cutting"  and  "agricultural"  ants  of  tropical 
and  sub-tropical  countries  are  objects  of  great  interest  to  the  naturalist ; 
but  we  need  not  go  beyond  our  own  state  to  learn  much  of  interest  that 
pertains  to  some  kinds  of  these  insects.  We  can  study  the  little  brown 
ant  (see  Fig.  199),  the  "mound-building"  ant,  and  other  species,  each  of 
which  will  give  us  many  surprises  during  the  year.  The  slave-making 
habit  is  common  among  ants,  while  several  species  keep  "covvs"whicb 
they  milk.  These  cows  are  various  species  of  plant-lice  which  they  often 
hold  captive  within  their  nests  where  they  provide  them  with  the  propei 
food.    Like  their  allies,  ants  are  also  very  fond  of  sweets,  and  couse 


100 


A  PRELIMINAKY  INTRODUCTION 


quently  many  of  them  are  always  to  be  found  frequenting  plants  in- 
fested with  aphids,  where  they  feed  upon  the  "honey-dew"  produced  by 
the  latter.  Several  examples  of  forethought  as  exhibited  by  insects  are 
to  be  found  among  ants  here  in  Nebraska.    The  Corn-root  Louse  (Aphis 


Fio.  191.— The  Lons-tailed  Ophion{0pbion  ma,- 
cru rum). —[Alter  Kiley.] 


Fig.  192.— The  Cecropia  Cryptus  (Cryptus 
nuDcins;  a,  female  fly;  b,  abdomen  of  C. 
samise,)   ,  male  abdomen. — [After  Riley.] 


maidi-radicis)  lays  its  eggs  about  the  roots  of  corn-stalks  of  the  year. 
These  eggs  are  gathered  by  a  common  small  brown  ant  and  stored  away 
for  the  winter.    The  following  spring,  after  special  galleries  have  been 


Fio.  193.— Larva  of  the  Long-tailed  Ophion. 
—[After  lliley.] 


Fio.  194.— Transverse  section  of 
Cecropia  cocoon,  showing  co- 
coons of  the  Cryptns  fly.— 
[After  Riley.] 


dug  near  the  surface  of  the  ground,  these  eggs  are  taken  from  the  re- 
cesses of  the  nests  and  placed  in  these  galleries  to  hatch.  Should  cold, 
wet  weather  intervene  the  eggs  are  carried  back  until  warm  weather 
returns,  when  they  are  replaced.  After  hatching  the  young  lice  are 
placed  by  the  ants  upon  the  roots  of  various  weeds,  and  finally  upon  the 
young  corn.  In  return  for  this  care  on  the  part  of  the  ants,  they  are 
repaid  with  a  bountiful  supply  of  honey-dew  by  their  proteges. 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


101 


Following  the  several  families  of  true  ants  we  have  certain  bright- 
colored,  hairy,  wingless,  ant-like  wasps  which  belong  to  the  family  Mu- 
TiLLiDiE.  These  are  provided  with  exceedingly  long  stings,  and  the  males 


I'lG.  195. — Acronycta  larva  killpd  by 
Rbogas  intermed/us.— [Original]. 


Fia.  196.— The  Meteorus  Parasite  {Meteorus 
byphantrise):  a.adultfly;  6,  cocoon— enlarKed. 
—[After  Kiley.] 


alone  are  winged.  They  are  not  "social"  in  their  habits,  so  far  as  known* 
and  at  least  some  of  the  species  belonging  to  the  genus  Mutilla  are 
parasitic  on  the  different  species  of  bumble-bees,  while  it  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed that  other  genera  of  the  family  possess  like  habits. 

The  insect  known  as  the  White-grub  Parasite  {TipMa  inornata,  Say) 

which  is  illustrated  in  Fig. 
200,  belongs  to  the  family  of 
wasps  called  Scoliid^  by  en- 
tomologists. The  female  wasp 
finds  a  grub  and  lays  an  egg 
upon  it.  This  egg  hatches  and 
the  larva  at  first  feeds  exter- 
nally, where  it  hangs  fast  by 
means  of  strong  hooks  with 
which  it  is  provided.  Finally 
it  kills  the  grub,  matures,  and 
spins  for  itself  a  cocoon,  and 
the  following  spring  issues  as  an  imago. 

The  many  species  of  black,  blue,  and   other  unattractively  colored 
wasps  belonging  to  the  family  Pompilid^  are  also  parasitic  in  a  certain 


Fio.  197.— The  Mary  Chalcis  fly  {Cbalcis  maHae) 
female.— [After  Riley]. 


102 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


measure.  These  insects  burrow  in  sandy  soil  and  provision  their  nests 
with  spiders  and  the  larvre  of  various  insects,  which  they  first  paralyze 
by  stinging  them.  The  different 
species  of  the  family  resemble 
one  another  very  closely,  and, 
therefore,  are  rather  difficult 
to  determine  save  by  the  spe- 
cialist. 

The  members  of  the  family 
SPHECiDiE  have  similar  habits 
with  the  preceding,  and  can  be 
recognized  by  having  the  basal 
segment    of    the    abdomen 

usually  narrowed  "into  along,  .  ,        ,     rAftpr 

^^l  1         ,.    ,  ■,   X,         Fig.  198— PacftjnenrOD  njjcans.  enlarged.— [After 

smooth,  round  petiole,  and  the      Howard  ] 

head  and  thorax  usually  clothed  with  long,  thin  pubescence."  Several 
additional  families  of  "digger"  wasps  occur  within  the  region,  and 
possess  similar  habits  with  the  above.  All  of  these  occur  only  as  males 
and  females,  while  the  true  wasps  sometimes  are  social  and  occur  as 
males,  females,  and  workers,  like  the  social  ants,  bees,  and  termites. 


Fia.  199.— The  Little  lied  Ant  (Monomohum  phnraovis):  a,  female;  6,  worker.— [After  Riley.] 

The  true  wasps  are  usually  bright  colored  insects,  and  can  at  once  be 
distinguished  from  those  of  the  preceding  families  by  having  their  wings 
folded  longitudinallj'.  Some  of  these  insects  are  known  popularly  as 
"yellow-jackets,"  "paper- wasps,"  and  "hornets."  Some  of  the  solitary 
species  make  "their  nests  in  sandy  banks,  in  the  crevices  of  stone  walls, 
in  holes  bored  by  other  insects  in  wood,  etc.,  using  their  powerful  mandi- 
bles in  excavating"  since  their  legs  are  not  constructed  for  burrowing. 
Some  genera  make  "  mud  nests,  in  the  open  air.  on  stems  of  weeds,  or 
under  leaves,  or  loose  bark  of  trees."  The  social  wasps  are  paper  makers 
and  construct  their  nests  of  wood  fibres  which  they  scrape  off  and  manu- 
facture into  a  delicate  grayish  paper.      These  nests  are  familiar  objects  to 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


103 


most  every  one  of  us.  The  "  Bald-faced  Hornet  "  (Ves2}a  maculata)  builds 
large  globular  nests  on  trees  and  bushes.  The  different  species  oi  Polistes 
make  comb-like  structures  which  they  attach  to  the  eaves  and  gables  of 
buildings,  old  fences,  stone  walls,  etc.  The  food-habits  of  the  paper-wasiJ^ 
are  not  so  well  known  as  are  those  of  the  digging  wasps,  perhaps  for  the 
reason  of  their  agressive  natures ;  but  it  is  supposed  that  they  are  preda- 
ceous  rather  than  otherwise,  capturing  and  devouring  flies  and  other  soft- 
bodied  insects.  They  are  also  exceedingly  fond  of  meats  of  all  kinds. 
Wasps  sometimes  frequent  blossoms  where  they  feed  upon  nectar ;  and 
they  also  have  a  decided  fondness  for  honey-dew,  and  hence  can  be  taken 
where  plant-lice  abound. 

Passing  to  the  Anthophila  or  group  of  the  Hymenoptera  known  as 

"  bees,"  we  find  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  Species  that  are  of  great 
benefit  to  the  horticulturist,  since 
it  is  chiefly  through  their  agencies 
that  most  fruit  blossoms  are  fertil- 
ized. Bees  are  the  marriage  priests 
for  the  flowering  portion  of  the 
FiG.200.-whiteGrubParasite:a.imae:o;fc.beadPl^'^t  kingdom.  They  are  readily 
of  larva:  c,  larva;  d,  cocoon.- [After  Riie.v.]  separated  from  other  Hymenoptera 
by  having  the  basal  joint  ofithe  hind  tarsi  more  or  less  dilated,  flattened, 
generally  hirsute  and  furnished  with  an  apparatus  for  collecting  and  con- 
veying pollen.  A  few  of  the 
parasitic  species,  however* 
lack  this  last  named  charac- 
teristic. The  group  is  sep- 
arated into  two  families,  viz., 
the  Andrenid^  and  Apidje, 
the  members  of  which  are 
distinguished  from  each 
other  by  differences  chiefly 
in  their  mouth  structure^ 
All  of  the  first  family  are 
solitary,  while  some  of  the 
second  family  are  social  in  their  habit,  as  for  example,  bumble-bees  and 
the  honey-bee.  Much  of  interest  might  be  written  about  these  insects  ; 
but  no  attempt  will  be  made  to  treat  of  special  forms  in  the  present  paper. 

ORDER  XVI.    DIPTERA.— ( rtTO-zwwr/ed  Insects.) 

The  flies  or  two-winged  insects  appear  to  be  most  widely  removed  from 
the  original  Thysanuran  type  of  all  orders  ;  and  hence  the  order  Diptera 
has  been  placed  at  the  very  head  of  the  class  Insecta  by  -aX  least  a  few  of 
our  most  recent  writers  on  systematic  entomology.  This  decision  has 
been  reached  only  after  some  very  careful  research  on  the  part  of  these 
writers ;   and  it  is  on  this   authority  that  this  arrangement   has  been 


Fin.  201.— Honey  bee:  drone,  queen,  and  worker— drone 
enlarged. 


104  A  PRELIMINAEY  INTRODUCTION 

adopted.  Hyatt  and  Arms,  whom  we  have  already  quoted  several  times, 
maintain  that  modifications  in  any  direction  from  the  normal  types  is 
an  indication  of  advance  in  the  scale  of  development.  lu  the  present 
order  we  find  more  examples  of  such  specialization  than  in  any  of  the 
orders  previously  treated.  I  quote  the  following  from  their  book  "  In- 
secta  ": 

"The  young  of  even  the  generalized  forms  of  Diptera  are,  as  a  whole, 
farther  removed  from  the  Thysanuriform  type  than  those  of  any  other 
group.  The  secondary  larval  form,  which  in  the  case  of  the  Diptera  is 
always. footless  and  often  an  almost  headless  maggot,  has  complete  pos- 
session of  the  younger  stages.  As  Friedrich  Brauer  has  pointed  out, 
the  general  absence  in  the  larvae  of  Diptera  of  the  thoracic  legs,  even 
although  living  in  situations  that  seem  to  demand  their  development, 
shows  that  they  must  have  inherited  this  peculiarity  from  an  ancestral 
form  whose  larva  had  lost  them.  This  comparative  inflexibility  of 
the  larval  stage  is  sufficient  of  itself  to  show  that  there  is  now  a  wide  gap 
between  the  existing  Diptera  and  all  other  insects,  and  that  this  chasm 
is  not  closed  by  the  resemblances  of  the  parts  in  the  adult  to  those  of 
the  Lepidoptera  or  isolated  forms  in  other  orders." 

"  There  is  in  this  order  also  marks  of  extreme  specialization  in  the 
mouth  parts  of  the  adult,  which  are,  as  a  rule,  modified  for  the  office  of 
sucking.  The  abdomen  has  not  the  flexibility  of  the  pedunculated  abdo- 
men of  the  Hymenoptera  Aculeata,  no  stinging  apparatus  present,  but  is, 
nevertheless,  narrowly  pedunculated  in  some  forms..  The  aspect  of  the 
highly  complicated  and  concentrated  thorax  accompanies  the  reduction 
of  the  wings  to  one  functional  pair.  This  last  characteristic  and  the  ten- 
dency to  reduce  the  useless  pair  of  wings  is  carried  to  an  extreme 
throughout  this  order,  and  can  thus  be  compared  as  a  whole  with  such 
isolated  specialized  types  in  other  orders  as  the  Coccidce  among  the  Hem- 
iptera,  and  the  Stylopidce  among  Coleoptera." 

The  common  house-fly  can  be  taken  as  the  type  for  the  order.  Its 
eggs  are  laid  in  the  manure  of  stables  and  barn  yards,  and  in  about 
twenty-four  hours  hatch  to  legless  maggots  that  attain  their  growth  in  a 
week  or  even  less.  When  full-grown  the  larval  skin  contracts  and  hard- 
ens, at  the  same  time  separating  from  and  serving  as  a  protection  for  the 
pupa  within.     In  about  a  week  more  the  perfect  insect  issues. 

The  order  Diptera  is  composed  of  a  large  number  of  families,  the 
members  of  which  vary  greatly  in  habits  and  appearance.  None  of  them 
are  very  large  when  compared  with  some  of  the  representatives  of  the 
other  orders.  Only  a  very  few  of  these  families  can  be  mentioned  in  this 
little  work.  Packard  has  estimated  that  there  are  probably  as  many  as 
10,000  distinct  species  of  flies  in  the  United  States  alone. 

The  family  Tipulid.e  is  composed  of  rather  large,  long-legged  insects 
that  are  variously  known  as  "Crane-flies,"  "Daddy  Long-legs,"  " Giant 
mosquitoes,"  etc.  Their  larvae  are  known  as  " leather  jaocets  "  on  ac- 
count of  their  tough  or  leathery  skins,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  country 
are  considered  great  pests  to  clover  and  grass  meadows.    They  live  in  the 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


105 


6 

Fio.  202.— R  o  b  b  e  r-fl  y. 
Brax  Bastarriii;  a,  fe- 
male fly;  b,  pupa. —  [Af- 
ter Riley.] 


ground  and  work  upon  the  roots  of  the  different  plants  which  are  at- 
tacked by  them.  Some  of  these  insects  have  been  described  by  me  in  my 
report  on  "  Insect  Enemies  of  Small  Grains  "  published  in  the  annual  re- 
port for  1893. 

The  members  of  the  mosquito  family  (Culioid-E)  are  similar  in  appear- 
ance to  the  crane-flies,  only  that  they  are  much  smaller  than  the  forms  of 
that  family  with  which  we  are  most  familiar.  In  these  insects,  it  is  needless 
to  state,  the  mouth-parts  are  well  developed.  The 
females  feed  upon  the  blood  of  animals  and  the 
juices  of  plants,  preferring  the  former  when  it  can  be 
obtained.  The  mouth-parts  of  the  mosquito,  like 
those  of  other  Diptera,  are  very  complex.  Their 
eggs  are  laid  in  boat-shaped  masses  that  float  upon 
stagnant  or  standing  water  and  soon  hatch  into  "  wig- 
gle-tails "  such  as  so  frequently  occur  in  rain  bar- 
rels. One  of  these  mosquitoes  is  illustrated  in  Fig. 
203  where  the  insect  is  shown  as  larva,  pupa,  and 
imago. 

The  AsiLiD^  or  "Robber-flies"  are  very  well 
shown  by  the  accompanying  illustration  of  Erax 
bastardii  (See  Fig.  202).  These  robber-flies  are  very 
voracious  creatures,  and  do  much  good  by  capturing  and  destroying 
many  injurious  insects  such  as  locusts,  moths,  butterflies,  etc.  Even  the 
larvse  of  some  of  these  flies  are  known 
to  be  of  value  by  destroying  various 
ground-inhabiting  grubs. 

The  large  flies  commonly  known  as 
"horse-flies,"  "deer-flies,"  and 
''breeze-flies"  belong  to  the  family 
TABANID.S;.  This  is  a  rather  well-de- 
flned  group  composed  of  species  that 
have  a  taste  for  blood.  The  larvae  of 
these  horse-flies  are  aquatic  in  their 
habits,  hence  the  reason  for  the 
greater  abundance  of  flies  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  ponds,  streams,  and  other  FiO-  203.— a  Mosquito  (Culex  plppn.i);  a 
,      J.  c         4.  adult  male;  b,  bend  oj  female;  /,  larva;  e- 

bodies  of  water.  pupa.-[After  Westwood.] 

There  is  a  family  of  rather  small,  gnat-like  flies  known  as  the  Geoid- 
OMTID.E.  These  are  known  as  "  gall-gnats  "  because  many  of  them  produce 
galls  or  swellings  upon  various  plants  which  they  infest.  The  Hessian- 
fly  is  an  example  of  this  family,  and  will  give  the  reader  a  fair  idea  of 
what  these  insects  are  like.  Each  species  produces  its  characteristic  gall, 
inside  of  which  the  maggots  live  and  seemingly  absorb  most  of  the  sub- 
stance used  in  their  growth. 

The  family  Bombtliid^,  or  as  they  are  commonly  known,  the  "  Bee- 
flies  "  are  quite  an  interesting  group  on  account  of  their  parasitic  habits. 


^».^^ 


106 


A  PRELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


One  of  these  flies  is  figured  herewith  which  has  been  bred  from  cut- 
worms. Other  species  are  known  to  feed  upon  the  eggs  of  different  species 
of  locusts  or  grasshoppers.  Several  of  these  latter  species  are  described 
at  length  in  the  Second  Annual  Report  of  the  United  States  Entomo- 
logical Commission.    These  bee-flies  are  beautiful  creatures  and  some  of 


Fig.  204.— a  Bee-fly  (Anthrax  bypomelas):  a,  larva  from   Bide;    b,  pupal  ekln  protruding 
from  cutworm  chrysalis;  c,  pupa;  d,  imago— all  enlarged.— [Froni  Insect  Mfe.] 

them  remind  one  not  a  little  of  the  insects  from  which  they  have  taken 
their  common  name.  They  vary  much  in  general  appearance,  but  most 
of  them  bear  sufficient  resemblance  to  the  one  here^  figured  (Fig.  204)  to 
enable  any  one  to  decide  the  family  relations  at  least  of  any  specimen 
that  may  come  into  bis  or  her  possession. 

The  families  that  have  been  mentioned  thus  far  are  separated  from 


Fio.  Z(S^.—Mesograpia  polita:  a,  larva;  b,  pupa:  c,  imago— all  enlarged.— [Insect  I.ife.] 

other  Diptera  under  the  group  name  Orthorhapha,  Those  which  follow 
are  placed  in  the  group  Cyclorhapha  by  systematists.  The  grounds  for 
this  separation  are  based  on  the  manner  in  which  the  several  forms  be 
longing  to  the  different  families  form  their  pupa  cases. 

The  family  SYRPHTca:  or  "Sun-flies"  is  very  extensive.  Prof.  S.  W. 
Williston,  in  his  synopsis  of  the  family  for  North  America,  says  of  them: 
''The  family  of  Syrphidse  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  in  the  order  of 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


107 


Diptera.  Nearly  or  quite  two  thousand  species  are  known  from  through- 
out the  world,  and  many  new  forms  are  constantly  being  added.  Thej 
contain  among  them  many  of  the  brightest  colored  flies,  and  numerous 
specimens  are  sure  to  appear  in  every  general  collection  of  insects.    None 


Fio.  20Q.—MaUota  posticata  and  puparia.— [After  Lintner]. 

are  injurious  in  their  habits  to  man's  economy,  and  many  of  them  are 
very  beneficial."  The  larvge  of  these  flies  are  predaceous  in  their  food 
habits — feeding  for  the  most  part  on  plant-lice  of  different  kinds.  A 
few  of  them  are  aquatic  in  their  larval  state.  One  of  these  is  shown  in 
Pig.  206,  where  it  is  figured  both  as  imago  and  larva. 

The  family  Anthomyid.e,  of  which  the  accompanying  illustration  rep- 
resents one  species,  is  composed  of  moderately  small  flies  that  bear  a 

general  resemblance  to 
the  house-fly  and  some 
of  the  flesh-flies  that 
are  known  to  live  as 
parasites  within  the 
bodies  of  other  insects. 
Most  of  the  representa- 
tives of  this  family  are 
known  to  be  vegetable 
^^  feeders.  A  few  of  1  hem 
4  are,  however,  destroy- 
ers of  locust  eggs.  The 
one  figured  being  of 
this  latter  class. 

The  'flesh-flies"  belonging  to  the  family  Tachinid^   is  a  very  exten- 
sive group.    Most  of  the  species  are  parasitic  within  the  bodies  of  other 


Fig.  207.— Anthotnjia  sp.:  a.  fly,  b,  pnparia;  c,  larva;  i 
larged.— [After  Kiley.] 


108 


A  PEELIMINARY  INTRODUCTION 


insects.  Several  of  these  flies  have  been  figured  and  described  in  vari- 
ous of  my  reports  published  during  former  years.  A  single  species  is 
figured  herewith  (see  Fig.  208). 

The  "bot-fiies  "  (family  CEstrid^)  are  among  the  most  interesting  of  the 

Diptera,  living  as  they  do  within  the  bodies  of 

various  mammals  and  varying  their  habits  to 

suit  each  host  upon  which  any  one  of  them  is 

parasitic.     The  horse  bots  live  in  the  stomach 

as  larvae;  those  of  the  cattle  and  allied  animals 

under  the  skin  upon  the  back;  and  that  of  the 

Fio.  208-Tachina  Fly.-[After  ^lieep  within  the  nose  cavity.     Some  species 

t^Wey.]  infest  the  bodies  of    rabbits,   squirrels,    and 

other  rodents;  and  an  African  species  is  the  enemy  of  the  elephant,  and 


Fig.  209.— aS7s«rus  ovis:  Sheep  Bot.— [After  Riley.] 


Fia.  210.— Hypoderma  llneatva.- 
[After  Packard.] 


Fio.  211.— iT,  lineatua:  a.  egg;  6,  c,  larva —[Insect  life.]  Fia.  212.— Sheep  Tick. 

lives  within  its  trunk.    Some  of  these  bots  are  shown  in  Figs.  209,  210, 
and  211. 

The  fieas  (Fig.  213)  are  included  among  the  Diptera  by  most  syste- 
matists,  but  by  others  are  made  a  separate  order,  viz.,  Aphanipteba.  These 


TO  THE  STUDY  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 


109 


insects  are  very  peculiar  creatures,  living  as  they  do  upon  the  blood  of 
various  animals.  The  larvae  feed  upon  vegetable  and  other  substances. 
Fleas  can  be  killed  by  the  use  of  "  flea-powder  "  or  pyrethrum.  A  wash 
made  by  diluting  the  kerosene  emulsion  will  also  kill  these  insects  if 
used  upon  cats  and  dogs. 

Lastly,  we  come  to  a  very  peculiar  group  of  insects  called  the  Pupipara, 
that  is  included  among  the  Diptera.  These  insects  are  parasitic  in  their 
habits  and  are  peculiar  on  account  of  their  larvae  being  retained  within 


Fia.  213.— Flea:  a,  larva;  b,  pupa.— [After  Westwood.] 

the  bodies  of  the  parent  insects  until  they  arrive  at  the  pupa  stage, 
when  they  are  expelled.  The  group  is  separated  into  three  families,  viz., 
Bbaulinid^,  known  as  "bee-lice,"  Nyctebibid^,  "bat-ticks,"  and  Hippo- 
BOSciD^, "  sheep-ticks  "  and  "  forest-flies."  The  illustration  shown  at  Fig. 
212  is  the  sheep-tick. 


REMEDIES,  OR  METHODS 


THAT  CAN  BE  USED  IN 
FIGHTING 


INJURIOUS  INSECTS, 


REMEDIES,  OR  METHODS  THAT  CAN  BE  USED 
IN  FIGHTING  INJURIOUS  INSECTS.     ' 


After  having  learned  something  about  the  appearance,  life  habits,  and 
classification  of  the  insects  in  the  world  about  us,  it  naturally  follows 
that  we  wish  also  to  know  something  concerning  the  various  methods  that 
can  be  adopted  for  getting  rid  of  such  of  them  as  prove  injurious.  The 
following  suggestions  are  therefore  given  on  this  topic,  with  a  hope  that 
they  will  be  of  some  use  to  the  reader. 

A  number  of  remedies  have  been  suggested  and  tried  in  the  past  with 
varied  success  by  divers  persons  in  different  localities.  Some  of  these, 
while  successfully  destroying  the  insects  against  which  they  have  been  or 
might  be  used,  are  not  practical  on  account  of  the  great  cost  and  amount 
of  labor  required  in  their  application.  Others,  again,  have  been  very 
successfully  employed  with  financial  gain,  as  well  as  in  the  destruction  of 
the  pests  against  which  used.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  we  must  always  aim  at 
profit  to  the  parties  interested.  A  remedy  that  requires  more  expense 
for  its  application  than  the  value  of  the  article  to  be  protected  is  no 
remedy  at  all.  Such  remedies  should,  therefore,  be  practical,  easily  ap- 
plied, effective,  and  also  of  comparatively  little  cost  in  labor  and  money. 
There  are  a  few  of  such  remedies  known  to  us,  and  these  might  be  termed 
"standard."  These  remedies  should  also  be  applied  in  accordance  with 
the  nature,  methods  of  attack,  and  the  life-habits  of  the  insects  that  are 
to  be  fought.  Unless  this  be  done,  much  labor  and  money  are  liable  to 
be  expended  uselessly;  this,  too,  even  in  the  use  of  these  "standard" 
remedies  which  are  described  hereafter. 

In  order  to  fight  an  enemy  intelligently  and  at  t  he  same  time  success- 
fully, we  must  be  more  or  less  familiar  with  its  modes  of  action — with 
its  tactics,  as  it  were.  So  in  attempting  to  wage  war  with  insects  we 
can  do  it  best  if  we  first  learn  something  of  their  nature  and  life-habits. 
We  should  study  about  them  in  schools,  both  public  and  private. 

After  having  carefully  studied  the  life  histories  and  habits  of  the  dif- 
ferent insects  that  attack  our  trees,  shrubs,  herbs,  etc.,  externally,  we  find 
that  they  all  belong  to  either  the  one  or  the  other  of  two  classes  as  re- 
gards their  mode  of  attack  ;  i.  e.,  they  either  take  their  food  solidly  or 
else  in  fluid  form.  The  former  devour  the  foliage,  and  the  latter  suck  the 
sap  from  the  leaves  and  bark  of  the  smaller  limbs  and  twigs.  Therefore, 
Ln  the  choice  of  our  remedies  we  must  take  these  habits  into  considera- 
tion. Those  that  devour  the  foliage  can  be  killed  by  poisons  taken  into 
the  digestive  canal  with  the  food,  while  such  as  live  upon  the  juices  of  the 
plant  only  must  be  reached  and  destroyed  otherwise.  The  first  essential, 
then,  in  the  selection  of  a  remedy  against  an  insect  enemy  must  be  based 


114 


KEMEDIES,  OR  METHODS  USED 


upon  its  food-habits— the  manner  in  which  its  food  is  taken.  Insects 
also  feed  openly  upon  the  surface  of  the  plants  attacked,  or  they  feed 
while  concealed  within  the  tissues  of  the  leaf,  stem,  limb,  trunk,  or  root. 
Or  while  buried  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground.  It  stands  to  reason 
^hat  the  representatives  of  the  former  class  can  be  reached  more  readily 
than  those  of  the  latter.  It  is  also  quite  evident  that  the  remedies  that 
would  effectually  combat  the  one  class  could  not  reach  those  of  the  other. 

SPRAYING. 

Chief  among  the  many  methods  that  can  be  adopted  for  controlling 
insect  enemies  is  the  application  of  certain  insecticides  in  the  form  of 
fine  sprays  upon  the  food-plants  attacked.  These  insecticides  th  it  can 
be  thus  applied  are  many,  embracing  mineral  poisons,  oils,  acids,  alkalies, 
plant  decoctions,  etc. 

How  Applied. — The  method  of  applying  these  insecticides  has  much 
to  do  with  their  efficacy  upon  the  insects  which  are  intended  to  be  de- 
stroyed. It  is,  therefore,  quite  as  necessary  for  us  to  choose  the  best 
methods  of  applying  the  poisons  as  it  is  to  secure  the  best  and  most  sure 
insecticides.     A  loose,  careless  application  of  the  very  best  material  will 

often  prove  an  entire  failure,  besides 
a  waste  of  material  and  time;  whereas, 
if  properly  applied  with  a  good  force- 
pump  in  the  form  of  a  fine  spray  the 
work  will  be  all  that  could  be  desired. 
A  number  of  different  pumps  have 
been  devised  and  placed  upon  the 
market  for  this  purpose.  These  can 
be  obtained  from  the  manufacturers 
or  through  local  dealers.  For  con- 
venience to  the  reader  some  forms  of 
these  pumps  and  machines  are  illus- 
trated herewith  in  Figs.  214  to  228. 
Figs.  214  and  215  show  a  couple  of 
the  smaller  general-purpose  pumps 
that  can  be  carried  about  and  used 
for  spraying  in  the  garden,  flower 
beds,  shrubbery,  etc.,  as  well  as  for 
window  washing  and  buggy  cleaning. 
The  first  is  manufactured  and  sold  by 
the  Field  Force  Pump  Co.,  of  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  and  the  second  by  Henion 
&  Hubbell,  of  Chicago,  111.  In  the  il- 
lustrations numbered  216  and  217  are  shown  two  styles  of  knapsack 
sprayers  for  garden,  vineyard,  and  orchard  use.  The  Gallway  sprayer  is 
made  and  sold  by  Henion  &  Hubbell  and  the  Garfield  Knapsack 
Sprayer  by  the  Field  Force  Pump  Co.  In  the  figure  numbered  218 
one  of   these  knapsack  machines  is  shown  in  use.      For  spraying   large 


Fig.  214. — "  Little  Gem  "  spraying  pump. 


IN  FIGHTING  INJURIOUS  INSECTS. 


115 


orchards  and  high  trees  pumps  of  greater  power  are  required.  One  that 
comes  between  the  first  class  and  these  latter  is  shown  in  Fig.  219.  It  is 
manufactured  by  P.  C. 
Lewis,  of  Catskill,  N.  Y., 
who  calls  it  the  Combi- 
nation Spray  Pump.  Of 
the  more  powerful  ma- 
chines for  use  from  wag- 
ons    the     pumps     illus-    ^lo.  228.— The  Woodason  Powder  Bellows. 

trated  in  Figs.  220  and  221  are  good  representatives.  That 
shown  in  Fig.  220  is  placed  on  the  market  by  Henion  & 
Hubbell,  of  Chicago,  under  the  name  of  the  Improved 
Spray  Pump,  while  the  one  represented  in  Fig.  221  is  the 
production  of  Gould's  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Seneca  Falls, 
N.  Y.  The  use  of  these  pumps  in  orchard  work  is  well  rep- 
resented in  Figs.  222  and  223.  Still  other  spray  machines 
are  made  and  sold  for  special  uses.  One  of  these,  the 
Steitz  Potato-bug  Sprinkler,  made  by  J.  R.  Steitz,  of  Cudahy, 
Wis.,  is  shown  in  Fig.  225;  and  still  another  sold  by  the 
Field  Force  Pump  Co.,  in  Fig.  226. 

Fig  215— The  "^^  ^^^  above  might  be  added  a  number  of  other  pumps 
Victor  Force  for  applying  insecticides  in  liquid  form,  as  well  as  contriv- 
ion'&'Hubben^  ances  for  the  application  of  powders  and  gases.  To  these 
Chioapo.  .^g  could  also  add  machines  for  capturing  and  destroying 

different  ones  of  the  pests  that  belong  to  the  class  Insecta. 


Fio.  216.— The  Galloway  Knap-  Fig.   217.— The   Garfield   Knapsack 

Back    Sprayer.  —  Henion     &  Sprayer.— Field  Force  Pump  Co. 

Hubbell,  Chicago. 

The  Arsenites. — Under  the  name  of  arsenites  we  have  several  very 
effective  insecticides.  These  are  the  Paris  green  and  London  purple  of 
commerce,  and  arsenite  of  lead.    The  first  is  an  arsenite  of  copper,  and  the 


116 


REMEDIES,  OR  METHODS  USED 


Fig    218.—  V  Kaapaack  Sprajer  in  nse, 

second  an  arsenite  of  lime.  The  first  two  are  preferable  to  white  arsenic 
itself  for  use  as  insecticides  on  account  of  their  color,  which  acts  as  a 
sort  of  a  safeguard  against  accidents,  and  also  from  the  fact  that  they 
are  more  readily  held  in  suspension  in  the  liquid  while  being  used.    The 


Fig.  219.— The  Combination  Spray-  Fio.  220.— The  Improved  Spray-pump— 

pump— P.  C.  Lewis,  Catsliill,  N.  Y.  Henlon  &  Hubbell.  Chicago. 

London  purple  made  by  Hemingway's  London  Purple  Co.,  of  London, 
England,  is  much  cheaper  than  the  Paris  green  and  is  just  as  effective  in 
its  work  on  the  many  insects  for  which  the  latter  has  been  recommended 
and  used.    It  is  less  liable  to  adulteration,  and  its  purplish  color  renders 


IN  FIGHTING  INJUEIOUS  INSECTS. 


117 


its  detection  quite  easy;  and  it  is  also  more  finely  pulverized  and  hence 
more  readily  kept  in  suspension.  The  arsenite  of  lead  is  a  new  insecti- 
cide of  which  we  know  comparatively  little  in  a  practical  way.  Recent  ex- 
periments at  the  Hatch  Station  in  Massachusetts,  however,  tend  to  show 
that  it  is  less  destructive  to  foliage  than  either  of  the  other  poisons. 

How  Strong  to  Use. — None  of  these  poisons  should  be  used  stronger 
than  one  pound  to  150  or  200  gallons  of  water,  as  arsenic  is  quite  destruc- 
tive to  vegetation  if  applied  stronger  than  this. 
Even  these  mixtures  will  injure  the  foliage  of 
some  trees  and  shrubs.  These  poisons  should 
also  be  kept  quite  thoroughly  stirred  during 
spraying  so  as  to  keep  them  from  settling  to 
the  bottom.  Nor  should  the  liquid  be  applied 
in  such  quantities  as  to  run  off  the  tree  or 
other  vegetation  in  streams.  Merely  enough 
should  be  used  to  wet  the  foliage  thoroughly. 

Time  to  Spray. — The  proper  time  to  spray  is 
when  the  insects  to  be  fought  begin  to  feed, 
since  young  larvae  and  caterpillars  are  more 
susceptible  to  the  action  of  insecticides  than 
when  they  are  older.  Do  not,  however,  spray 
trees  or  other  plants  with  either  London  purple 

Fig.  221. — Force-nuniD  maile  for  -i-,      .  i  .i     xi  •        i  i  -n    -i^ 

applying  insecticides  to  trees,  or  Paris  green  while  they  are   m   bloom  if  it 

®*'^-  can  be  helped.     The  blossoms  must  be  visited 

by  bees  in  order   to  insure  their   proper  fertilization.     Blossoms   that 

have  been  sprayed  with  these  poisons  will   kill  bees.     Besides,  the  in- 


Fig.  222.— ShowinK  use  of  Spray- 
pnmp  from  wagon. 


Fig.  223.— Showins  use  of  Force-pump  for  spraying 
insecticides  from  wagon. 


sects  that  are  usually  fought  in  this  manner  do  not  begin  their  attacks 
until  several  days  after  the  blossoms  have  fallen  and  the  young  fruit 
has  set.  In  case  of  heavy  rains  falling  soon  after  spraying  has  been 
done,  it  will  often  be  necessary  to  spray  a  second  time  a  week  or  ten 
days  later. 


118  HEMEDlES,  OR  METHODS  USED 

Insects  That  Can  be  Destroyed  with  Aksemtes. — It  might  also  be 
of  benefit  to  mention  just  what  kinds  of  insects  can  be  destroyed  by 
means  of  these  arsenical  sprays.  All  kinds  of  caterpillars,  beetles,  saw- 
flies,  and  other  insects  that  attack  the  foliage  and  external  portions  of 


Fig.  224.— Attachment  for  underspraying  certain  garden  plants. 

the  plants  with  their  .jaws,  and  also  a  few  that  work  in  the  fruit.  Always 
avoid  the  use  of  these  poisons  upon  plants  that  are  to  be  used  as  articles 
of  food  for  man  or  beast  unless  the  poison  is  sure  to  be  washed  off  later 
by  rains. 

Kerosene  Emulsion. — Next  to  the  "  arsenites,'\  as  London  purple, 
Paris  green,  and  the  arsenite  of  lead  are  called,  possibly  the  best  insecti- 
cide is  "kerosene  emulsion."  This  has,  perhaps,  even  more  varied  uses 
than  they,  being,  as  it  is,  non-poisonoiis.  It  is  also  about  the  only  practi- 
cal remedy  that  we  have  for  fighting  the  sticking  insects  It  kills  by  con- 
tact, instead  of  entering  the  digestive  canal  and  circulation  as  do  the 
poisons.     It  suffocates  the  insects  by  choking  up  their  breathing  pores. 

Pure  kerosene  or  coal  oil  would  be  just  as  destructive  to  the  vegeta-, 
tion  as  it  is  to  insect  life.  It  must  therefore  be  diluted  with  water  be- 
fore using — a  rather  diflQcult  matter  to  do,  you  will  say;  yet,  by  going  at 
it  in  the  proper  manner  this  can  be  done.  The  following  directions,  if 
carefully  followed,  will  give  the  desired  result.  It  is  the  formula  known 
as  Hubbard's  because  first  used  by  that  gentleman  in  his  experiments 
with  orange  insects,  and  is  the  one  used  by  the  United  States  Division  of 
Entomology: 

Kerosene  (the  common  lamp  oil) 2  gallons. 

Water 1  gallon. 

Common  washing  soap ■ }{  pound. 

Heat  the  solution  of  soap,  and  add  it  boiling  hot  to  the  kerosene. 
Churn  or  agitate  the  mixture  by  means  of  a  force  pump  and  spray-nozzle 
for  five  or  ten  minutes.  The  emulsion,  if  perfect,  forms  a  cream  which 
thickens  on  cooling,  and  should  adhere  without  oiliness  to  the  surface  of 
glass.    Dilute,  before  using,  one  part  of  the  emulsion  with  nine  parts  of 


IN  FIGHTING  INJURIOUS  INSECTS. 


119 


cold  water.     The  above  formula  gives  three  gallons  of   emulsion  and 
makes,  when  diluted,  thirty  gallons  of  wash. 

How  Applied.— Professor  Cook  says:  "Many  have  complained  of  a 
lack  of  success  in  the  use  of  kerosene  emulsion.  In  such  cases  I  pre- 
sume the  explanation  lies  in  the  manner  of  making  the  application.  We 
must  bear  in  mind  that  the  lice  are  well  concealed  and  protected  by  the 
thousand  leaves  from  which  they  are  sucking  the  life  and  a  livlihood. 
Often  the  leaves  curl  up  and  thus  make  the  protection  more  sure.  But 
we  must  strike  every  louse  or  insect  with  the  liquid.  We  cannot,  then, 
turn  on  or  sprinkle  the  liquid  gently,  we  must  dash  it  on  with  force,  that 
every  insect  may  be  struck;  then  there  will  be  no  complaint  of  ill  suc- 
cess. Thus  the  kerosene  emulsion  should  always  be  applied  with  a  good 
force-pump.     It  is  doubtless  better  to  throw  all  liquid  insecticides  in 


Fig.  225.— Steitz  Potato-bu;;  Sprinklpr, 
spraying  for  injurious  insects;  with  the  kerosene'emnlsion  it  is  absolutely 
essential  to  success.     The  kerosene  emulsion  is  superior  to  any  other 
insecticide,  so  far  as  I  have  experimented,  in  destroying  plant  lice,  scaly 
bark  lice,  many  of  the  bags,  and  not  a  few  caterpillars,  grubs,  and  slags." 

With  the  above  facts  before  him  the  intelligent  individual  will  be  able 
to  apply  these  several  insecticides  to  the  destruction  of  a  great  variety 
of  injurious  insects  that  attack  other  plants  than  the  trees  growing  upon 
his  premises.  Of  course,  bearing  in  mind  that  the  poisonft  should  never  lie 
used  to  destroy  insects  that  work  upon  vegetables  or  other  articles  of 
food.  For  these  latter  he  can  resort  to  the  kerosene  emulsion  and  also 
to  the 

Persian  Insect  Powder,  or  Pyrethrum  as  it  is  generally  called. 
This  last  named  insecticide  is  composed  of  the  finely  pulverized  flower- 


120 


REMEDIES,  OR  METHODS  USED 


heads  and  stems  of  a  composite  plant  which  bears  some  resmblance  to 
the  daisy  and  is  known  botanically  by  the  generic  name  Pyrethrum. 
Most  of  the  home-made  ''insect  powder  "  is  the  product  of  a  California 
firm,  and  is  put  up  for  the  market  as  "Buhach."  It  is  better  to  use  this 
Buhach  than  to  buy  that  of  foreign  make,  for  it  loses  its  strength  with 
age.  Like  the  arsenites  this  may  be  used  as  a  powder  and  dusted  on  the 
plants,  but  it  is  perhaps  best  to  put  it  in  water  in  the  proportion  of  a 
heaping  tablespoonful  to  two  gallons  of  water.  This  insecticide  kills  by 
contact  and  not  by  being  eaten.  It  is  a  splendid  household  article  that 
should  be  kept  on  hand  for  emergencies  in  the  warfare  against  fleas,  flies, 
lice,  bed-bugs,  etc.  To  be  kept  as  fresh  as  possible,  a  tight  box  or  bottle 
is  absolutely  necessary.  For  house  use  a  small  bellows  is  essential  so 
that  the  powder  can  be  forced  into  the  cracks  and  nooks  where  the  insects 
take  refuge.  This  insect  powder  is  also  a  splendid  remedy  against  fleas 
upon  the  bodies  of  pets,  as  cats  and  dogs.  It  is  also  a  good  plan  for  trav- 
elers to  carry  some  of  the  powder  along  to  use  in  self-protection  against 
vermin  of  all  kinds  upon  the  body  as  well  as  in  sleeping  quarters. 


Fio.  22G.— The  Wheelbarrow  Potato  Sprayer. 

Carbolic  Acid  in  the  crude  form  is  also  sometimes  used  as  an  insecti- 
cide, and  is  especially  useful  in  destroying  vermin  about  stables,  hen 
coops,  and  such  like  places  as  long  as  it  is  kept  out  of  the  food  of  the  ani- 
mals that  are  kept  there.  It  soon  evaporates  and  becomes  harmless.  It 
is  also  used  in  connection  with  soap  as  a  wash  for  trunks  of  trees  as  a 
protection  against  certain  scales  and  borers.— Hard  soap.  1  lb.;  water,  2 
gallons  ;  crude  carbolic  acid,  1  pt. 

Bisulphide  of  Carbon.— This  is  a  very  volatile  liquid,  the  fumes  cf 
which  are  destructive  to  animal  life  of  all  kinds,  hence  it  is  of  much  im- 
portance for  the  destruction  of  certain  kinds  of  insects  that  cannot  so 
well  be  destroyed  by  any  of  the  other  remedies  that  we  know  of.    It  is 


IN  FIGHTING  INJURIOUS  INSECTS. 


121 


especially  effective  when  used  against  insect  enemies  in  stored  grains.  It 
is  also  quite  effective  in  killing  ants  and  other  ground-living  insects  that 
withdraw  from  our  view  below  the  surface.  In  killing  grain  insects  the 
best  way  to  use  it  is  to  have  the  grain  in  tight  bins,  then  pour  the  liquid 
over  the  top  and  allow  it  to  penetrate  to  the  bottom.  If  the  grain  be  cov- 
vered  with  a  canvass  sheet  less  of  the  liquid  will  answer  the  purpose 
than  if  left  uncovered.  For  use  in  killing  ants  holes  should  first  be 
punched  into  the  ground  a  foot  or  more  and  several  ounces  of  the  liquid 
poured  into  these  and  the  holes  afterwards  closed.  In  the  use  of  the 
bisulphide  of  carbon  it  is  quite  necessary  that  great  precaution  be  taken 
to  keep  it  away  from  fire,  for  it  is  very  explosive.  It  is  also  dangerous  to 
breathe  the  fumes  of  it. 

White  Hellbobe. — This  is  a  vegetable  poison  made  from  the  roots  of 
the  Indian  Poke  or  Veratimm  album,  as  it  is  known  botanically.  It  is  both 
an  external  irritant  and  an  internal  poison.  It  is  applied  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  pyrethrum,  and  is  especially  fatal  to  the  slugs  of  saw-flies. 


Fig.  227.— Kerosene  Pan  or  ••  Hopper  Dozer,"  for  capturing  and  destroying   locnsts  and 
leaf-hoppers.— [After  Riley.] 

Tobacco.— This  is  used  both  as  a  decoction  and  as  a  fumigating  ma- 
terial for  killing  lice  upon  animals  and  plants.  As  a  "  sheep-dip  "  it  has 
been  in  use  for  a  long  time.  The  decoction  has  also  been  regularly  used 
for  sprinkling  house  plants  for  destroying  various  vermin  that  at  times 
infest  them.  For  the  latter  purpose,  however,  it  is  best  to  use  it  in  the 
form  of  a  smudge. 

Soap-suds  AND  Soft-soap. — These  are  frequently  used  as  insecticides 
when  other  kinds  are  not  at  hand.  Strong  soap-suds,  if  applied  to  vege- 
tation covered  with  "  green-flies  "  or  plant-lice,  will  often  kill  the  insects 
and  save  any  further  warfare  necessary.  Soap  in  the  shape  of  soft-soap 
is  an  excellent  tree  wash  for  the  protection  from  flat-head  borers. 


122  BEMEDIES,  OR  METHODS  USED 

Hot  Watee. — Even  hot  water  is  sometimes  a  very  excellent  remedy 
against  many  of  these  creatures.  It  can  be  used  for  killing  the  various 
caterpillars  that  attack  cabbages  and  like  plants.  Boiling  water  can 
also  be  used  against  the  box  elder  bug  and  other  insects  when  they  gather 
in  bunches. 

In  addition  to  these  "  standard "  insecticides  that  we  know,  there  are 
dozens  of  patent  ones  that  can  be  bought  in  the  market.  These  latter 
may  be  good,  or  they  may  be  worthless.  Just  which  ones  are  to  be  relied 
upon  and  which  are  to  be  avoided  I  cannot  say.  Like  many  other 
"patent"  nostrums,  some  of  them  are  put  up  and  sold  on  their  merits, 
while  others  are  put  up  and  sold  for  the  money  there  is  in  them  tempor- 
arily. I  find  that  it  is  always  safest  to  rely  upon  such  things  as  we  our- 
selves know  to  be  good;  and  then  we  are  sure  not  to  be  "duped." 

Pruning  and  Hand-picking.— Careful  pruning  away  of  injured  twigs 
and  limbs  that  contain  insect  enemies  or  their  eggs  and  afterwards  burn- 
ing them  will  destroy  large  numbers  of  destructive  insects.  Much  good 
can  also  be  done  towards  keeping  down  these  pests  by  merely  gathering 
their  eggs,  crushing  their  larvae,  picking  their  cocoons  during  fall,  winter, 
and  early  spring;  and  even  by  hand  picking  the  imagoes  or  perfect  in- 
sects themselves  and  destroying  them.  This  includes  also  catching  and 
destroying  them  by  means  of  machines,  etc.,  as  the  "  hopper  dozers,"  for 
catching  and  killing  the  various  leaf-hoppers,  destructive  locusts,  and 
other  grass  insects,  torches  for  killing  tent  caterpillars,  etc. 

Agricultural  Methods. — In  many  instances  it  is  possible  for  us  to  ^o 
a  great  deal  in  the  way  of  protecting  our  crops  from  the  ravages  of  insect 
pests  by  simple  agricultural  methods  without  any  or  but  little  additional 
cost.  By  this  I  mean  plowing, .harrowing,  rolling,  and  cultivating  the  land 
at  particular  times  or  in  certain  ways  so  as  to  disturb  the  enemy  while  in 
some  critical  condition.  Burying  deeply  the  eggs  or  newly  hatched  young 
of  some  insects  by  plowing  will  often  save  an  entire  crop.  Rolling  and 
crushing  will  destroy  others,  while  harrowing  frequently  prevents  others 
from  gaining  in  numbers  sufficiently  large  to  do  harm.  Cleaning  hedge 
rows,  fence  corners,  and  ravines  by  removing  the  lodged  weeds  and  other 
debris  will  also  aid  greatly  in  keeping  these  pests  within  bounds.  In 
other  words,  clean  farming  is  one  of  the  very  best  remedies  against  in- 
sect increase  and  consequent  loss.  Weeds  often  afford  a  bountiful  food- 
supply  to  a  certain  class  of  insect  pests  that  when  once  present  in  excessive 
numbers  turn  their  attention  to  cultivated  plants  botanically  related. 
For  examples  of  this  we  need  only  cite  the  reader  to  a  list  of  insect  ene- 
mies of  the  sugar  beet  and  potato. 

Parasites  and  Other  Natural  Enemies.— Most  all  insect  pests  are 
naturally  kept  within  bounds  by  parasitic  and  predaceous  insects  that 
busy  themselves  in  feeding  upon  them.  They  are  also  subject  to  diseases 
of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  to  the  attacks  of  birds,  reptiles,  and  small 
mammals.  By  encouraging  and  aiding  these  natural  checks  to  the  in- 
crease of   insect  pests,  we  can  do  much  towards  keeping  them  within 


IN  riGHTING  INJURIOUS  INSECTS.  123 

bounds.  We  can  also  often  introduce  from  distant  regions  parasites  that 
by  themselves  may  soon  do  the  good  work. 

Pkoteot  the  B[rd3. — Of  all  things  to  be  urged  towards  this  end,  that 
of  protecting  our  song  birds  is  of  the  utmost  importance.  Do  not  allow 
boys  with  guns  to  stalk  abroad  in  the  land  shooting  everything  in  the 
shape  of  a  bird  that  comes  in  sight.  Out  of  the  400  or  more  species  of 
birds  that  visit  our  state  during  the  year  but  two  or  three  are  to  be  classed 
as  nuisances.  They  all,  perhaps  with  these  exceptions,  many  times  repay 
us  for  the  few  grains  of  wheat,  corn,  and  other  cereals  which  they  may 
eat,  by  destroying  insects  and  the  seeds  of  noxious  weeds. 

Mechanical  Mixture  OF  Water  AND  Kerosene.— An  attachirfent  has 
been  designed  and  perfected  by  Prof.  E.  S.  Goff,  of  the  Wisconsin  station, 
with  which  kerosene  and  water  can  be  mechanically  mixed.  Experiments 
that  have  been  conducted  at  several  of  the  agricultural  stations,  and 
especially  at  the  Mississippi  station,  tend  to  show  that  this  mechanical 
mixture  of  kerosene  and  water  is  fully  as  satisfactory  as  kerosene  emul- 
sion when  applied  as  an  insecticide.  It  has  even  been  claimed  that  the 
mixture  has  an  advantage  over  the  emulsion,  which  is  sometimes  difficult 
to  make  and  regulate  so  as  not  to  injure  the  foliage  of  plants  upon  which 
applied. 

This  kerosene  attachment  has  been  applied  to  the  "  Perfected  Gallo- 
way "  Knapsack  Pump,  made  by  the  Deming  Company,  of  Salem,  Ohio 
It  is  also  made  by  the  W.  B.  Douglas  Co.,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  as  an  at- 
tachment to  go  with  their  "Perfection  Knapsack  Sprayer."  Both  ma- 
chines are  now  in  market  and  sell  at  the  low  price  of  eighteen  dollars  each, 
complete.     The  knapsack  pump  without  the  kerosene  attachment  is  $15. 

"This  attachment  can  also  be  used  for  many  purposes  other  than  the 
mechanical  mixture  of  kerosene  and  water.  In  many  cases  it  may  be 
best  to  dilute  fungicides  only  when  applied  to  the  foliage  in  the  act  of 
pumping,  and  for  this  purpose  it  will  Drove  useful." — H.  E.  Weed. 


INSECT  ENEMIES 

OF  THE 

Apple  Tree  and  its  Fruit. 


Extracted  from  the  Nebraska  State  Horticultural  Report 
for  i8g4.—pp.  154-223. 


INTRODUCTION. 

In  accordance  with  the  expressed  desire  of  the  Society  to  make 
the  present  report  an  "Apple  Report,"  I  have  prepared  my  paper 
upon  the  insect  enemies  of  this  particular  tree  and  its  fruit.  While 
the  number  of  species  that  have  been  detected  feeding  upon  this  tree 
appears  to  be  very  large,  the  present  list  is,  no  doubt,  very  incom- 
plete, since  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  entomological  literature 
of  our  country  has  been  gone  over  during  its  preparation.  The  com- 
pilation of  this  list  is  the  work  of  Miss  Maysie  Ames,  a  special  stu- 
dent of  mine,  who  has  been  paying  some  attention  to  the  insect 
enemies  of  the  apple  during  the  past  four  or  five  months.  From 
among  the  large  number  of  insects  thus  affecting  the  apple  there  have 
been  chosen  a  number  of  the  most  injurious.  These  latter  are  de- 
scribed more  in  detail  along  with  their  modes  of  attack,  life-history, 
and  remedies. 

It  is  but  just  here  to  acknowledge  the  liberality  of  the  Society  in 
the  way  of  voting  special  funds  for  the  purchase  of  cuts  to  be  used  in 
illustrating  this  and  former  reports.  In  addition  to  this,  I  wish  also 
to  take  the  present  opportunity  for  thanking  such  of  my  colleagues  as 
Forbes,  Lintner,  Riley,  Osborn,  Popenoe,  and  others  for  the  use  of 
cuts  belonging  to  them. 

Very  respectfully, 

Lawrence  Bruner, 
Entomologist  University  of  Nebraska. 


INSECTS  THAT  HAVE  BEEN  FOUND  TO  FEED  UPON 
THE  APPLE  TREE. 

In  presenting  this  subject  for  publication,  I  can  do  no  better  than  to 
take  Lintuer's  list,  which  was  published  in  1882,  as  a  basis,  and  add- 
ing to  it  such  references  as  have  been  recorded  since.  The  introduc- 
tion to  Lintner's  list  will  also  apply  here,  hence  "The  following  are 
all  the  United  States  species  (281)  that  are  known  to  me,  or  have 
been  reported  upon  accepted  authority,  as  depredating  upon  the  apple 
tree.  *  *  *  An  entire  exploration  of  our  entomological  literature 
might  add  nearly  or  quite  fifty  species,  and  careful  observation  would 
unquestionably  give  us  no  inconsiderable  number  which  have  not  yet 
been  recognized  as  apple  insects. 

"It  is  hardly  necessary  to  state  that  not  all  the  species  here  recorded 
are  to  be  included  among  those  injurious  to  the  apple  tree,  but  as  each 
one  is  known  to  make  it,  at  times,  its  food-plant  from  choice  (many 
others  will  feed  upon  it  in  confinement),  the  least  harmful  among  them 
may  at  any  time,  through  such  sudden  and  inexplicable  multiplication 
as  is  often  witnessed  in  the  insect  world,  become  seriously  injurious. 

"The  authority  for  including  the  species  in  the  list  is  giveu  in  each 
instance."     *     *     * 

LEPIDOPTERA. 

mUENALS. 
Papilio  turnus  Linn.     Tumus  mvallotoiail,  Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  268. 
Limenitis  dissipus  GODT.  Dissipus  butterfly,  Scadd.,  Ball.  Buflf.  Soc,  II,  250. 
Limenitis  Ursula  (Fabr.).    Ursula  butterfly,  Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  II,  27fi. 
Thecla liparops  Le  CONTE.    Streaked  thecla,  Scudd.,  Bull.  Buflf.  Soc,  III,  111. 
Thecla  calanus  Hueb.    Banded  hair  streak,  Scudd.,  Psyche,  1889,  276. 

NOCTURNALS. 

Deilephila  lineata  Fabb.  White  lined 
sphinx...  Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  I,  206. 

Paonias  excajcatus  (Sm.  &  A.).  Blind-eyed 
sphinx Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  327. 

Smerinthus  fieminatus  Say Beut.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  203. 

Sphinx   drupiferarum    (Sm.  &  A.)      Plum 

sphinx Lintner,  Proc.  E.  S.  Ph.,  Ill,  658. 

Sphinx  gordius  Cram.     Apple  sphinx Harris,  Ins.  luj.  Veg.,  328. 

Spilosoma  virginica  (Fabb.).  Virginia  er- 
mine moth Walsh,  Pract.  Ent.,  II,  103. 

Arctiid  sp Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  17. 

Hyphantria  cunea  Deu.     Fall  web-tvorm.... Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept,  III,  19. 


128  ^  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

Hyphantria  sp.  ? Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  17. 

Halesidota  caryge  (Haub.  ).  Hickory  tussock- 
moth Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept.,  Ill,  19. 

Halesidota  maculata  (Hare.).  Spotted 
tussock-moth Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Halesidota  sp.  ? Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  17. 

Orgyia  leucostigma  (Sm.  &  A.).  White- 
marked  tussock-moth Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  366. 

Parorgyia  parallela  Gk.-Rb Coquillett,  111.  Rept.,  X,  166. 

Lagoa  opercularis  (Sm.  &  A.) Walsh,  Amer.  Ent.,  II,  29. 

Lagoa  crispata  Pack Beat.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  207. 

Euclea  cippus  Cram Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Ocneria  dispar  Linn.     Gipsy  moth Riley,  Ins.  Life,  II,  209. 

Porasa  chloris  Her.  Sch.    Green  hag-moth,  Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  II,  307. 

Empretia  stimulea  Clem.  Saddle-back  cat- 
erpillar  Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  I,  40. 

Phobetron  pithecium  (Sm.  &  A.).  Hag- 
moth Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  II,  340. 

Limacodes  scapha  Harr.     Skiff  timacodes,  Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Limacodes  flexuosa  Grt Beut.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  207. 

Lithacodes  fasciola  Her.  Sch.    Banded  lith- 

acodes Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Thyridopteryx    ephemerseformis    (Haw.). 

Bag-ioorm Riley,  Amer.  Ent,  II,  38. 

Sesia  pyri  Harr.     Pear-tree  borer Weed,  Ins.  Life,  IV,-34. 

Zeuzera  pyrina  LiNN.  European  Leopard- 
moth : Clark,  T.  R.,  Ins.  Life,  IV,  77. 

Datana  ministra  (Drury).  Yellow-necked 
apple-tree  moth Fitch,  N.  Y.  Repts.,  I-II,  235. 

Datana  integerrima  Gr.  &  R Gr.  &  Rob.,  Proc.  E.  S.  Ph.,  VI,  12. 

Datana  con tracta  Walk Forbes,  111.  Rept,  1884,  95. 

Xyleutus  robinise  Peck.  Locust  carpenter 
moth Forbes,  111.  Rept,  1884,  95. 

CEdemasia  concinna  (S.  &  A.).  Red-humped 
apple-tree  caterpillar Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  425. 

CEdemasia  eximia  Gkote Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Ccelodasys  unicornis  (Sm.  &  A.).  Unicorn 
prominent Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  424. 

Callosamia  promethia  (LiNN.).  Promethia 
moth Minot,  Can.  Ent,  11,100. 

Ptelea  polyphemus  Cram.  American  silk- 
worm  Beut,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.,V,  209. 

Attacus  cecropia  Linn.     Cecropia  moth Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  388. 

Callimorpha  fulvicosta  Clem Riley,  Mo.  Rept,  III,  132. 

Hemileuca  maia  Dru.    Maia  moth Marten,  111.  Rept,  X,  128. 

Hypercheria  io  Fabr.     Io  emperor  moth Saunders,  Ins.  Inj.  Fr.,  388. 

Clisiocampa  disstria  Hbn.  Forest  tent-cat- 
erpillar  Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  373. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  129 

Clisiocampa  americana  Hare.     Apple  tent- 

caterpiUar Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  375. 

Clisiocampa  thoracica  Stretch Koebele,  Bull,  U.  S.  Div.  Ent.,  23,  42. 

Clisiocampa  erosa  Stretch "  "  « 

Clisiocampa  sp "  "  « 

Clisiocampa  sp.  ? Stretch,  Papilio,  III,  19. 

Clisiocampa  sp.  ? "  «'        20. 

Gastropacha  americana   Harr.     American 
lappet-moth Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  377. 

Tolype  vellida   (Stoll).       Veleda  Lappet- 
moth , Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  379. 

Acronycta  occidentalis  G.  &K Lintner,  Ent.  Contrib.,  I,  62. 

Acronycta  morula  G.  &  R "  "  11,137. 

Acronycta  luteicoma  G.  &  R Thaxter,  Papilio,  III,  17. 

Acronycta  radcliffei  Harvey  "  "      17. 

Acronycta  hamamelis  Gden "  "      17. 

Acronycta  brumosa  GUEN Beat.,  Ann.,  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  210. 

Acronycta  oblinita  Sm.  &  A "  "  211. 

Agrotis  clandestina  Hare.     W-marked  cut- 
worm   Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  I,  79. 

Agrotis  messoria  Harr.     Dark-sided  cut- 
worm   Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  I,  74. 

Agrotis  scandens    Riley.      Climbing  cut- 
worm   Eiley,  Mo.  Rept.,  I,  76. 

Agrotis  saucia  (Huebn.).     Variegated  cut- 
worm  Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  I,  72. 

Agrotis  ypsilon  ROTT Thomas,  111.  Rept.,  1880,  134. 

Mamestra  assimilis  Morr Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Mamestra  confusa  Huebn Dyar,  Ins.  Life.,  Ill,  63. 

Mamestra  picta  Hare.    Zebra  caterpillar... CoqaiWett,  Ins.  Life,  V,  287. 

Tseniocampa  sp Koebele,  Bull.  U.  S.  Div.  Ent.,  23,  43, 

Laphygma  frugiperda  Guen.     Fall  army 
worm Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  II,  364. 

Chamyris  cerintha  Tr ....  Beut,  Ann.  N.  Y   Acad.,  V,  216. 

Microgonia  limbaria  Ha w "  "  220. 

Plagodis  keutzingaria  Grt "  "  200. 

Amphipyra  pyramidoides  Guen.    Pyramid 

grape-vine  caterpillar Guenee,  Noct. ,  III,  398. 

Orthosia  instabilis  SCHIFF.      Unstable  drab- 
moth Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  Ill,  25. 

Xylina  bethunei  Gr.  &  R.  Bethune^s  xylina... Thaxter,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Xylina  antennata  Walk.  Ash-gray  pinion,  Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  135. 

Nolophana    malana    (Fitch).      Shoulder- 
striped  tortrix Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  I-II,  241. 

Aletia  argillacea  Huebn.    Cotton-worm Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  Ill,  68. 

Catocala  grynea  Cram Coquillett,  III.  Rept.,  X,  184. 

Amphydasis  cognitaria    Huebn.     Currant 
amphydasis Lintner,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  II,  101. 


130  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

Biston  ypsilon  Forbes Forbes,  111.  Kept.,  XIV,  96. 

Semasia  sp.  ? Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  17. 

Heliothis  sp.  ? Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  18. 

Eumacaria  brunnearia  Pack Bent,  Aun.  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  221. 

Boarmia  pampinaria  GuEN "  "  222. 

Boarmiacrepuscularia  Tb "  "  222. 

Operopbtera  boreata  HuEBN "  "  222. 

Ennomos  subsigaaria  Huebn.     Snow-white 

linden-mofh Dodge,  Can.  Eufc.,  XIV,  30. 

Corycia  vestaliata  GuEN.      Vestal  (or^/cia.  ...Perkins,  G,  H.,  in  lit.  to  Liutner. 

Hyberuia  tiliaria  Hare.     Lime-'.ree  winter- 
moth Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  472. 

Phigalia  strigat.aria   Minot.     Banded  phi- 
galia Frencb,  111.  Kept.,  VII,  24L 

Anisopteryx  vernata  Peck.    Spring  canker- 
worm  Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  463. 

Anisopteryx     pometaria     Harb.     Autumn 

canker-worm Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  463. 

Teras  minuta  RoB.    Apple-leaf  tyer Le  Baron,  111.  Rept.,  II,  20. 

Teras  cindrella    Riley.     Oreen  apple-leaf 

tyer Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  IV,  46. 

Teras  oxycoccana  Pack.     Apple-leaf  folder,  Riley,  Bui.  Div.  Ent.,  31,  15. 

Cacoecia  rosaceana  Hare.     Oblique-banded 

leaf  roller Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  480. 

Caccecia  argyro.spila  (Walk.) Riley,  Trans.  Am.  E.  Soc,  X,  12. 

Cacoecia  rosana  Linn Beut.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  226. 

Lopboderus  triferana  (Walk.) Murtfeldt,  Trans.  Am.  E.  S.,  X,  15. 

Eccopsis    malana    Feenald.      Apple  bud- 
worm Coquillett,  Trans.  Am.  E.  S.,  X,  72. 

Eccopsis  permundana  (Clem.).    Neat  straw- 
berry leaf-roller Coquillett,  Papilio,  III,  102. 

Tmetocera  ocellana  (Sciiiff.).    Eye-spotted 

bud-moth Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  482. 

Grapbolitba    prunivora   (Walsh).      Flum 

moth Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  6. 

Phoxopteris   nebuculana  (Clem.).     Apple- 
leaf  fohhr Riley,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1878,  239. 

Carpocapsa    pomonella   (LiNN.).       Codling 

moth Linnaeus,  Syst.  Nat.,  X,  538. 

Eurycreou   rantalis    Guen.       Garden   web- 
worm Popenoe,  Kas.  R.  B.  A.,  1880,  100. 

Canarsia    hammondi     Riley.      Apple-leaf 

skeletonizer Riley  Mo.  Rept.,  IV,  44. 

Pbycis  indigenella  (Zeller).    Leaf-crump- 

ler Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  IV,  38. 

Anarcia  lineatella  Zeller Beut.,  Ann.  N.  Y.  Acad.,  V,  228, 

Argyrestbia  andereggiella  F.  V.  R "  "  228. 

Lyonetia  saccatella  Pack.    Apple  Zyoneita.. Saunders,  Ins.  Inj.  Fr.,  119. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  131 

Ypsolophus  pomoteljua  (Harr.).     Palmer 

worm Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept.,  1-11,221. 

Ypsolophus      contubernalellus      (Fitch). 

Comrade plum-ivorm Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept.,  1-11,233. 

Ypsolophus  malifoliellus  (Fitch.)     Striped 

Palmer-worm Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept.,  1-11,231. 

Coleophora  fletcherella  Feknald Fernald,  Can.  Ent.,  XXIV,  122. 

Coleophora  malivorella  Kilky.     Apple-tree  . 

case-bearer Riley,  Agr.  Kept,  for  1878,  253.  SA» 

LithocoUetis  pomifoliella   Zell.      Thorn-  •,,      «^,- 

apple  leaf-miner Clem.,  P.  A.  N.  S.  Ph.,  1860,208.    ^   ,ff 

Tischeria    malifoliella    Clem.      Apple  leaf  "    ,-   -l 

,     miner Clem.,  P.  A.  N.  S.  Ph.,  1860,  208.   ' ' 

Aspidisca  splendoriferella  Clem.    Eesplend-  ,"       ' 

ent  shield-bearer Comstock,  Agr.  R.  for  1879,  210.     .. :       ] 

Ornix  gemiuatella  Pack.     Wild-cherry  leaf-  f'     "^  '- 

miner Chambers,  Can.  Eot.,  V,  50.  Q   '^  - 

Bucculatrix  pomifoliella  Clem.    Apple-leaf  Q^       • 

bucculnirix Clem.,  P.  A.  N.  S.  Ph.,  1860,  214^.   iL 

Micropteryx  pomivorella  Pack.    Apple  mi-  , 

cropieryx Packard,  Inj.  Ins  ,  etc.,  1870,  6.         ^f 

COLEOPTERA. 

Silvanas  surinamensis  (LiNN.).   Grain  sil- 

vanus Glover,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1870,  66. 

Tenebrioides  corticalis  (Mels.) Hopkins,  Bui.  W.  Va.  Exp.Sta.,  32,180. 

Tenebrioides   nana   Melsh.      Dnmf  Une- 

briodes • Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  111,6. 

Ips  fasciatns  Oliv.     Banded  ips Thomas,  111.  Rept.,  VI,  91 

Lncanus  dama  Thunb.     Stag  beetle Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  45. 

Serica  iricolor  (Say).     Iridescent  serica Glover,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1868,  87. 

Macrodactylus  subspinosus  (Fabr.  ).    Rose 

chafer Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  36. 

Macrodactylus  uniformis  Horn.  Rose-beetle,  Riley,  Ins.  Life,  II,  115.  > 

Lachnosterna  prunina  Leg Townsend,  Ins.  Life,  II,  43. 

Lachnosterna  fusca  (Fkohl  ).     May  beetle..G\oyeT,  Agr,  Rept.  for  1868, 104. 

Lachnosterna  micans  Knoch "  "  "  104. 

Lachnosterna    fraterna    (Harris).      June 

beetle Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  32. 

Lachnosterna  hirticnla   (Knoch).      Hairy 

May  beetle. Glover,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1868,  88. 

Lachnosterna  crenulata  (Fkohl.) "  "  "  88. 

Lachnosterna  tristis  (Fabk.) Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  33. 

Lachnosterna  rugosa  Mels Bruner,  collected  on  apple. 

Lachnosterna  affinis  Leg "  "  " 

Pelidnota  punctata  Linn Bruner,  breeding  in  apple  stumps. 

Cotalpa  lanigera  Linn.     Goldsmithbrelle....     "        collected  on  apple. 


132  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

Anomala     marginata     Fabr.        Margined 

Anomala Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  45. 

Anomala  varians  Fabr.   {Anomala  undulata 

Mels.) I-e  Baron,  111.  Kept.,  V,  89. 

Macronoxia   variolosa   (Hentz.).     Scarred 

Melolontha Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  33. 

Euphoria  melancholica  (G.-P.).  Melancholy 

chafer Amer.  Entom.,  II,  61. 

Euphoria  inda  (LiNN.).     Indian  Ce/onia. ...Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  6. 
Osmoderma   eremicola    (Knoch).     Hermit 

Osmoderma Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  42. 

Osmoderma  scabra  (Beauv.).     Bough  Os- 
moderma  Glover,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1868,  90. 

Dicerca  divaricata  (Say).     Divaricated  Bu- 

prestis Glover,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1868,  91. 

Chrysobothris    femorata    (Fabr.).      Flat- 
headed  apple- tree  borer Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  1,25. 

Chrysobothris  semisculpta  Leg Blaisdell,  Ins.  Life,  V,  33. 

Chrysobothris  californica  Leg '*  "        33. 

Alaus  oculatus  (Linn.).      Eyed  snapping 

beetle ....Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  Ill,  IL 

A\a.usmyops  {¥ ABU.).  Blind  click-beetle "  "  12. 

Melanotus  incertus  (Leg.).   Uncertain  snap- 
ping beetle Riley,  Mo.  Rept.-III,  6. 

Melanotus  communis    (Gyll.).      Common 

snapping-beetle Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  6. 

Sinoxylon  basilare  (Say).     Red-shouldered 

Sinoxylon Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  IV,  54. 

Amphicerus  bicaudatus  (Say).    Apple-twig 

borer Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  Ill,  12. 

Bostrichus  bicornis  Web.    Two-horned  Bos- 

irichus Hopkins,  Bui.  W.  Va.  Exp.  Sta.,32,lJ 

Polycaon  confertus  Leg Riley,  Amer.  Nat,  XVI,  747. 

Prionus  laticoUis  (Drury).     Broad-necked 

Prionus Amer.  Ent.,  I,  233. 

Prionus  imbricornis  (LiNN.).     Tyle-horned 

Prionus Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  6. 

Chion  garganicus  (Fabr.) Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  Ill,  8. 

Chion  cinctus  (Drury).    Banded  Chion "  "  8. 

Elaphidion  villosum  (Fabr.).      Apple-tree 

pruner Riley,  Amer.  Ent. ,  III,  239. 

Elaphidion    parallelum     Newm.     Parallel 

Elaphidion Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  111,239. 

Neoclytus  erythrocephalus  Fabr Hopkins,  W.  Va.  Exp.  Sta.,  32,  195. 

Psenocerus  supernotatus  (Say) Packard,  Guide  St.  Ins.,  500. 

Leptostylus    aculifer    (Say).    Prickly  lep- 

tostyJus Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept.,  111,8. 

eternidius  alpha  (Say.) Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  Ill,  270. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT,  133 

Liopus  facetua  Say.     Facetious  Liopus Fitch,  N.  Y.  Eept.,  IV,  65. 

Hyperplatya  maculatua  Hald Riley,  Amer.  Ent.  Ill,  271. 

Eupogonius  toQieatosus  Hald Smith,  las.  Life,  IV,  43. 

Oncideres  cingulatus  (Say).     Twigffirdler..Ri\ey,  Amer.  Ent.,  Ill,  271. 

Saperda  Candida  Fabe.  Round-headed  ap- 
ple-tree horer Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  107. 

Saperda  cretata  Nkwm Osborn,  Amer.  Nat.,  XV,  244. 

Saperda  calcarata  Say Kiley,  Prairie  Farmer,  1867,  397. 

Glyptosceliscrypticus(SAY).  Cloaked  Chry- 
somela Fitch,  N.  Y.  Kept.,  Ill,  18. 

Diabrotica    vittata    (Fabe.).     Striped  cu- 

ctiviier  beetle Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  III.,  6. 

Diabrotica  12-punctata   Oliv.      12-spoVed 

cucumber  beetle Riley,  Ins.  Life,  IV,  107. 

Diabrotica  longicornis  Say.     Long  horned 

Diabrotica Forbes,  111.  Rept.,  XII,  23. 

Odontota  dorsalis  Thunb Hopkins,  Bui.  W.  Va.  Exp.  Sta.,  32,  202. 

Odontota  nervosa  Panz.     Rosy  Eispa Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  120. 

Xauthonia  10-notata  Say.  Ten- spotted 
Xanthoma Riley,  Bui.  Dept.  Ent,  31,  17. 

Graptodera  chalybea  Ilijgek.  Grape  flea- 
beetle McMillan,  Bui.  Neb.  Exp.  Sta.,  2,  43. 

Graptodera  foliacea  Leg.     Apple-tree  flsa- 

beetle Popence,  Bui.  Kas.  Exp.  Sta.,  3,  37. 

Crepidodera  helxines  Linn Forbes,  111.  Rept.,  XIV.  98. 

Crepidodera    cucumeris  Haee.     Cucumber 

flea-beetle Forbes,  111.  Rept.,  XIV,  98. 

Haltica  punctipennis  Leg Riley,  Sc.  Amer.,  56,  384. 

Notoxus  calcaratus  HoEN Insect  Life,  V,  197. 

Syneta  albida  Leg "        "    IV,  396. 

Hymenorus  obscuras  (Say) Lintner,  Count.  Gent.,  1882,  605. 

Macrobasis  uuicolor  (Kieby).  Ash-gray 
blister-beetle Glover,  Ag.  Rept.  for  1868,  105. 

Pomphopcea  senea  (Say).  Pear-tree  blister- 
beetle. Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  6. 

Epicserus    imbricatua   (Say).      Imbricated 

snout-beetle Glover,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1870,71. 

Ithycerus  noveborascensis  (FoE.ST.).     New 

York  weevil Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  Ill,  13. 

Anthonomus  crataegi  Walsh.     Thorn  cur- 

culio Riley,  Amer.  Ent.,  II,  308. 

Anthonomus  quadrigibbus  Say.  Apple  cur- 

culio Walsh,  Amer.  Ent  ,  I,  36. 

Coccotorua  prunicida  Walsh.  Plum  ganger,  Bruner,  collected  on  apple. 

Conotrachelus  nenuphar  (Heubst).     Plum 

curculio Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  76. 

Anametis  grisea  HoEN Riley,  Amer.  Nat.,  XVI,  915. 

Otiorhynchus  picipes  (Fabe.).  Pitchy- 
legged  weevil Packard,  Rep.  Geol.  Surv.,  1875,  757. 


134  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

Monarthrnm  mali  (Fitch).  Apple-bark 
beetle Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.  111,8. 

Pityophthorus  sp.  ? Hopkins,  Bui.  W.  Va.  Exp.  Sta.,  31,132. 

Hypothenemus  sp.  ? "  "  132. 

Hypothenemus  sp.  ? "  '*  133. 

Coscinoptera  dominicana  (Fabu.).  Domin- 
ican case-bearer Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  VI,  127. 

Xyleborus  pyri  (Peck).     Pear-blight  beetle,  Harris,  In-s.  luj.  Veg.,  90. 

Xyleborus  xylographus  Say Hopkins,  Bol.  W.  Va.  Exp.  Sta.,  31,  136. 

Xyleborus  obesus  Lec Riley,  N.  Y.  Trbune,  1877,  231. 

Scolytus  rugulosus  Ratz Webster,  Ins.  Life,  III,  299. 

HEMIPTERA. 

HETEEOPTEKA. 
Nysius  angu.statu3  Uhl.     False  chinch-bug,  Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  V,  112. 
Lygus   pratensis  LiNN.     Tarnished  plant- 
bug Riley,  Mo.  Rept,  II,  114. 

Trapezonotus  sp.? "      Ins.  Life,  V,  18. 

Leptocorus  trivittatus  Say.     Box-elder  bug,     "  "         IV,  273. 

Brochymeua  carolinensis  West Bruner,  collected  on  apple. 

Brochymena  annulata  Fabb Walsh-Riley,  Amer.  Nat.,  I,  237. 

HOMOPTERA. 

Cicada  tibicen  Linn.     Dog-day  cicada Uhler,  in  lit.  to  Lintner. 

Cicada  septendecim  Linn.  Seventeen-year 
cicada Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  I,  45. 

Cicada  tredecim  Riley.  Thirteen-year  ci- 
cada  Kiley,  Mo.  Rept.,  Ill,  6. 

Ceresa  bnbalus  (Fabr.).  Buffalo  tree-hop- 
per.  Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  V,  122. 

Ceresa  taurina  FiTCH.     Calf  tree-hopper Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  Ill,  17. 

Thelia  cratseigi  Fitch.  Thorn-bush  tree- 
hopper Saunders,  Ins.  Inj.  Fruits,  46. 

Empoasca  albopicta  Walsh.  Apple  leaf- 
hopper Riley,  Ins.  Life,  II,  340. 

Empoasca  obtusa Walsh,  Prairie  Farmer,  1862,  147. 

Empoasca  viridescens "  "  1863,212. 

Typhlocyba  rosse Riley,  Ins.  Life,  V,  18. 

Enchenopa  binotata  Say Goding,  Ins.  Life,  V,  93. 

Jassus  irroratus  Say \]h\er, inlit.  to  Lintner. 

Psylla  pyrisuga  FoRST.     Pear-tree psylla... .G\ower,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1876,  33. 

Aphis  mali  Fabr.     Apple-tree  aphis Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  I,  49. 

Aphis  malifoliae  Fitch.    Apple-leaf  aphis...     "  "        "       1, 56. 

Schizoneura  lanigera  Haus.  Apple-root 
plant-louse Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept,  1,5. 

Callipterus  mncidus  Fitch.    Mouldy  aphis,     "  "        "       111,16. 

Aleurodessp.  ? Walsh,  Pract  Ent,  II,  58. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT,  135 

Lachnus  dentatus  Le  Baron.  Spotted  wil- 
low aphis Thomas,  111.  Kept.,  VIII,  116. 

Chionaspis  fufnrus  (Fitch).  ScurJ)/  hark- 
loiise Walsh,  Pract.  Eut,  II,  31. 

Diaspis  ostreseformis  (CuRTis).  Circular 
lark-louse....^ Comstock,  Agr.  Rept.  for  1880,  312. 

Mytilaspis  pomicorticis  Rilky.  Apple  bark- 
louse Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  Veg.,  252. 

Aspidiotus  perniciosus  Comstock.  Perni- 
cious scale Comstock,  sitp.  cii.,  304. 

Aspidiotus  rapax  Comst.      Greedy  scale Coquillett,  Bui,  Div.  Ent.,  2G,  25. 

Lecanium  olese  Bernard.     Black  scale  of 

California Comstock,  sup.  cit.,  336. 

Lecanium  pruinosum  Coqttii.lktt.  Pow- 
dered lecanium Coquillett,  Ins.  Life,  III,  384. 

Ceroplastes  floridensis  CoMSTK  Wax-scale 
of  Florida .,„. Riley,  Ins.  Life,  I,  326. 

THYSANOPTERA. 

Thripa  tritici  Fitch.      Wheat  fhrips Osborn,  la.  Hort.  R.,  1892,  122. 

Phlceothrips  mali  Fitch.     Ajyple  Ihrips Fitch,  N.  Y.,  Rept.,  I,  102. 

Heliothrips  hsemorihoidalisBoucHE Pergande,  Psyche,  III,  381, 

ORTHOPTERA. 

fficanthusniveusSERV.    Snowy  tree-cricket,  Riley,  Mo.  Rept.,  V,  120. 

Orchelimum  glaberriraura  BuRM Dodge,  in  lit. 

Tragocephala  viridifasciata  De  G.  Green- 
faced  locust Saunders,  Ins.  Inj.  Fruits,  158. 

Camnula  pellucida  Scudd U.  S.  Ent.  Com.  Rep.,  I,  415. 

Schistocerca  americana  (Drury).  American 

loctist Liutner,  in  lit. 

Schistocerca  sho.shone  Thomas Townsend,  in  lit. 

Melanoplus  femur-rubrum  Dk  G U.  S.  Ent.  Com.  Rep.,  T,  445. 

Melanoplus  spretus  Thos.     Rocky  mountain 

locust U.  S.  Eut.  Com.  Rep.,  I,  2.53. 

Melanoplus  atlanis  Rilky.  Lesser  migratory 

locust U.  S.  Ent.  Com.  Rep.,  I,  445. 

Melanoplus  diflferentialis  Thos.   Differcnti  il 

locust Rruner,  collected  on  apple. 

Melanoplus  bivittatus  Say.      Two-striped 

locust Briiner,  collected  on  apple. 

Melanoplus  herbaceus  Brun'ER Townsend,  in  lit. 

Melanoplus  cinereus  ScuDD 

Melanoplus  cyaneipes  Mss 

Melanoplus  devastator  Scudd.   Devastating 

locust 

Pezotettix  chenopodii  BkUNER ...Bruner,  in  lit.  to  Riley. 


136 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


HYMENOPTERA. 

Formica  Doveboracensis  Fitch.    New  York 

ant Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,I-II,  63. 

Vespa  maculata  Linn.     White  faced  hornet,  Authors. 

Vespa  vulgaris  Linn.      Yellow  jacket " 

Polistes  fuscata  Fabr.     The  common  wasp..        " 

Tremex  columba  Linn.     Pigeon  tremex Amer.  Entom.,  11,  128. 

PLATYPTERA. 

Termes  flavipes  Kollak.     White  ants  or 
termites Insect  Life,  V,  20L 

DIPTERA. 

Sciaria  mali  Fitch.      The  apple  midge Fitch,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  I-II,  252. 

Trypeta  pomonella  "Walsh.   Apple  maggot,  Walsh,  III.  Rept.,  I,  29. 
Drosophila  ampelophila    LoEW.      Pickled- 
fruit  fly Comstock,  Agr.  R.  for  1881,  199. 

Drosophila  amoena  LoEW.  Pretty  pomace  fiy,         "  "  201. 

Ampelophila  sp.  ? Lintner,  N.  Y.  Rept.,  II,  23. 

Euxesta  notata  O.  S Riley,  Ins.  Life,  VI,  270. 

Helops  micans "     Prairie  Farmer,  1867,397. 

ACARINA. 

Bryobia  speciosa  (Koch) Webster,  Ins.  Life,  I,  363. 

MYRIAPODA. 

Julus  marginatus  Say Riley,  Prairie  Farmer,  1867,  397. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  137 

A  KEY  FOR  THE  DETERMINATION  OF  APPLE  IN- 
SECTS, BASED  IN  PART  UPON  THEIR  METHOD  OF 
ATTACK. 

A.  Attacking  the  roots. 

(a.)  Causing  swellings  on  smaller  roots Apple  Root-louse 

(6.)  Cutting  off  roots  in  nursery Tyle-horned  Borer 

B.  Attacking  the  trunk  and  branches. 
(a.)  Internally,  boring  in  the  wood. 

(1.)  At  or  near  the  surface  of  ground. 

*  Legless  borer  of  moderate  size Round-headed  Borer 

**  Large  borer  with  legs Moth  Borers 

(2.)  Usually  in  upper  trunk  and  branches Flat-headed  Borer 

(3.)  In  the  twigs  at  axils Apple-twig  Borer 

(4.)  In  twigs  at  base  of  buds Pear-blight  Beetle 

(6.)  Internally,  between  bark  and  wood. 

(1.)  Attacking  young  trees,  causing  bark  to  loosen, 

Apple-bark  Beetle 
(2.)  Attacking  trees  of  various  ages Fruit  Bark  Beetle 

(c.)  Amputating  smaller  limbs. 

(1.)  Larva  working  internally Apple-tree  Pruner 

(2).  Beetle  gnawing  around  outside Twig  Girdler 

{d.)  Attacking  the  bark. 

(1.)  Gnawing  off  from  new  growths Grasshoppers  or  Locusts 

(2.)  Gnawing  off  in  patches.    Beetle Epicserus  imbricatus 

(e.)  Piercing  and  laying  eggs  in  twigs. 
(L)  Entering  and  injuring  the  wood. 

*  In  summer Dog-day  Cicada,  17-year  Cicada 

**  In  fall Tree  Crickets 

(2.)  Piercing  bark  only. 

*  Making  triangular  slit Buffido  Tree-hopper 

(/.)  Piercing  the  twigs  loith  beak  for  food. 

*  Gathering  in  clusters  on  new  growths.. .Buffalo  Tree-hopper 
[g.)  Immovably  fixed  to  bark. 

*  Mussel-shaped  scale Oyster-shell  Bark-louse 

**  Irregular  flat  scale .....Scurfy  Bark-louse 

C.  Attacking  the  buds. 

(a.)  Living  within  before  it  opens Leaf-rolling  Caterpillars 

(6.)  Eating  them  out Bud-worms 

(c.)  Piercing  with  sucking  tube  and  causing  to  wither  and  drop, 

Tarnished  Plant-bug 


138  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

D.  Attacking  the  leaves. 

(a.)  Feeding  in  colonies.     Gregarious. 
(1.)  Protected  by  a  web.     Caterpillars. 

*  Web  in  forks  of  branches.     Spring Ten!  Caterpillars 

**  Web  covering  leaves.     Summer Fall  Web-woini 

***  Leaves  partly  eaten  and  drawn  together  with  web, 

Palmer- worm 
(2.)  Not  protected  by  a  web.     Caterpillars. 

*  Gathering  in  clnsters  on  limbs  and  trunks, 

Yellow-necked  Caterpillars 

**  Red  hump  on  fourth  ring Trim  Prominent 

***  Horn  on  fourth  ring Unicorn  prominent 

(3.)  Not  protected  by  a  web:     Beetles. 

*  Eating  holes  in  leaves.     Nurstries. 

Apple-tree  Flea-beetle 

**  Eating  entire  leaf.    Gray  beetle Imbricated  Snout-beetle 

(4.)  Not  protected  by  web.     With  sucking  mouth. 

*  Green,  soft-bodied,  wingless  bugs  in  colonies Plant-lice 

**  Gray,  winged  bugs  on  uur.sery  stock False  Chinch-bug 

(6.)  Solitary  or  scattered  over  tree. 
(1.)  Protected  caterpillars. 

*  By  web  over  single  leaf, Leaf  Skeletonizer 

**  In  tortuous  tube Leaf  Grumpier 

***  In  folded  leaves.     Leaf  Rollers Several  species 

****  Cases  made  from  piece  of  leaf. 

Resplendent  Case-bearers  ■ 
*****  Cases  made  of  silk,  leaf- fragments,  etc.. 

Apple-tree  Case-bearer 
******  Case  of  silk  covered  with  sticks, 

Basket- worm.     Bag- worm 
(2.)  Unprotected  Caterpillars. 
*  In  spring. 

t  Working  in  the  day-time Canker-worms 

ft  Working  in  the  night Cut-worms 

**  In  summer.     Caterpillars. 

t  Large,  green,  covered  with  spiney  tubercles, 

Cecropia  Silk-worm 
ft  Apple  green,  striped  obliquely  on  sides  with  white, 

American  Silk- worm 
ff f  Similar  to  above  but  with  bluish  caudal  horn. 

Blind-eyed  Sphinx 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  130 

lift  Green  or  gray  above,  pink  below, 

Larva  of  Turnus  Butterfly 
ttf ft  Hairy,  long  tufts  over  head  and  tail. 

White-marked  Tussock 
(3.)  Unprotected.     Beetles. 

*  In  spring. 

f  Feeding  at  night.     Large  brown May-Beetles 

ft  Feeding  at  night.     Smaller  brown. 

Other  Leaf-beetles 
tit  Feeding  during  day.     Small  gray-brown, 

Rose-chafer 
f  ttt  Feeding  during  day.     Large  whitish, 

Goldsmith  Beetle 
■■  ttttt  Feeding  during  day.     Small  grayish-black, 

Dominican  Case-bearer 
(4.)  Jumping  insects  with  sucking  mouth. 

*  Working  in  axils  of  leaves Jumping  Plant-lice 

**  Attacking  the  foliage  promiscuously. 

Various  tree-hoppers 
(5.)  Stripping  off  leaves  and  gnawing  bark  from  twigs. 

Various  Grasshoppers 

E.  Attacking  the  blossoms. 

(a.)  Entering  before  open  and  gnawing  so  as  to  shrivel Thrips 

(6.)  Piercing  after  open  and  killing Tarnished  Plant-bug 

F.  Attacking  the  fruit. 

(a.)  Eating  channels  through  it. 

(1.)  Channels  very  irregular  aud  numerous Apple  Maggot 

(2.)  Channels  chiefly  about  core,  single, 

Apple-worm,  Codling  Moth 

(3.)  Insect  eating  into  it  from  outside Ash-gray  Pinion 

(6.)   Gouging  into  it  for  food  or  to  lay  eggs Snout  Beetles 

(L)  Puncture  marked  with  crescent Plum  Curculio 

(2.)  Puncture  plain,  causing  fruit  to  distort. 

*  Insect  with  four  humps  on  wing-covers. ..Apple  Curculio 
**  Insect  without  humps  on  wing-covers Plum  Gouger 

***  Small  insect  living  within  enlarged  cavity... Apple  Thrips 

(3.)  Puncturing  ripe  fruit  with  beak  for  food. Box-elder  Bug 

(4.)  Puncturing  with  ovipositor.     Grasshopper Orcheliranm 

(c.)  Attacking  and  eating  holes  in  ripe  fruit Ind  ian  Ceton  ia 


140 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


THE  APPLE-TREE  ROOT  LOUSE. 

{Schizoneura  lanigera  Hausra.) 
This  plant  louse,  which  appears  in  two  forms,  has  become  quite 
plentiful  in  portions  of  the  state  within  the  past  few  years.  One  of 
these  forms  (Fig.  1)  works  upon  the  roots  of  the  tree  from  one  to  sev- 
eral inches  below  the  surface,  where  it  does  much  injury.  It  is  espe- 
cially destructive  to  nursery  stock  where  it  is  permitted  to  multiply  from 
year  to  year.  The  presence  of  this  root  form  is  readily  detected  by 
the  wart-like  swellings  which  its  attacks  produce  upon  the  roots;  also 
by  the  "moldy"  appearance  of  the  root  and  surrounding  earth.  The 
lice  insert  their  beaks  into  the  bark  of  the  roots  and  extract  the  juices 
which  would  otherwise  go  to  nourish  the  tree.  When  they  are  very 
numerous  their  injuries  cause  the  roots  to  gradually  decay';  and  if 
they  continue  in  th^ir  nftacks  the  trees  evonHnl^'-  die. 


Fig.  1.— Tlie  Api>Ic-uee  Root  Louse;  a,  rooUet  showing 
gail.-;  b,  wingless  or  apterous  louse;  c,  winged  insect; 
d,  e,f,  and  g,  parts  of  louse  showing  structure.  Figs. 
all  magnified  except  a.    [Afier  Riley.] 

If  upon  examination  you  should  discover  these  irregularities  upon 
the  finer  roots  of  your  apple  trees,  and  at  the  same  time  notice  the  moldy 
looking  spots,  you  may  be  sure  that  this  louse  is  present,  and  needs 
looking  after.  A  closer  examination  will  reveal  the  small  pale-yellow 
lice,  which  sit  concealed  beneath  their  flaky  covering  in  the  crevices 
of  the  root  deformities  which  their  attacks  have  produced.  These  are 
also  frequently  accompanied  by  winged  individuals  of  larger  size. 
The  wingless  lice  have  their  bodies  covered  with  a  bluish-white  cot- 
tony substance,  already  mentioned  as  the  "  moldy  "  substance,  which  is 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  141 

secreted  from  the  upper  portion  of  the  bodies  of  the  wingless  lice  and 
hangs  to  their  bodies  in  a  tuft  of  filaments  which  are  frequently  five 
or  six  times  the  length  of  the  lice  themselves.  In  Fig.  1,  a  repre- 
sents the  affected  root,  b  a  wingless  louse,  and  c  one  with  wings.  The 
size  of  these  insects  is  indicated  by  hair  lines  alongside  of  the  figures. 
Saunders  speaks  of  this  insect  as  follows  in  his  work  entitled  "  In- 
sects Injurious  to  Fruits":  "The  apple-root  plant  louse  is  believed  by 
some  entomologists  to  be  a  native  insect,  while  others  hold  to  the 
opinion  that  it  has  been  imported  from  Europe.  It  is  nourished  by 
sucking  the  juices  of  the  tree,  piercing  the  tender  roots  with  its  pro- 
boscis. In  the  very  young  lice  this  instrument,  when  at  rest  and 
folded  under  the  abdomen,  is  longer  than  the  body,  but  in  the  mature 
specimens  it  is  only  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  body.  While 
it  usually  confines  itself  to  the  roots  of  trees,  it  is  sometimes  found  on 
the  suckers  that  spring  up  around  them,  and  sometimes  also  about  the 
stump  of  an  amputated  branch,  but  in  every  instance  it  may  be  recog- 
nized by  the  bluish-white  cottony  matter  with  which  its  body  is  cov- 
ered. If  this  cottony  covering  be  forcibly  removed,  it  will  be  found 
that  in  two  or  three  days  the  insect  will  have  again  produced  suffi- 
cient to  envelop  itself  completely.  Occasionally  the  mature  lice  crawl 
up  the  branches  of  the  trees  during  the  summer,  where  they  also 
form  colonies,  and  then  are  known  as  the  Woolly  Aphis  of  the  apple." 
In  speaking  of  this  form  of  the  louse  now  under  consideration  the 
same  author  says :  "  They  are  often  found  about  the  base  of  twigs 
or  suckers  springing  from  the  trunk,  and  also  about  the  base  of  the 
trunk  itself,  and  around  recent  wounds  in  the  bark.  In  autumn 
they  commonly  affect  the  axils  of  the  leaf  stalks,  towards  the  ends  of 
twigs,  and  sometimes  multiply  to  such  an  extent  as  to  cover  the  whole 
under  surface  of  the  limbs  and  also  of  the  trunk,  the  tree  looking  as 
though  whitewashed.  They  are  said  to  affect  most  those  trees  which 
yield  sweet  fruit.  This  woolly  louse  is  very  common  in  Europe,  es- 
pecially in  Germany,  the  north  of  France,  and  England,  where  it  is 
more  destructive  than  in  this  country,  and,  although  generally  known 
there  under  the  name  of  the  'American  blight,'  it  is  believed  to  be 
indigenous  to  Europe,  and  to  have  been  originally  brought  from  Eu- 
rope to  America.  It  appears  to  thrive  only  in  comparatively  cold 
climates,  and  in  this  country  occurs  in  this  [above  ground]  form  most 
abundantly  in  the  New  England  states. 


Ii2  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

"Under  each  of  the  little  patches  of  down  there  is  usually  fouud 
one  large  female  with  her  young.  When  fully  grown  the  female  is 
nearly  one-tenth  of  an  inch  long,  oval  in  form,  with  black  head  and 
feet,  dusky  legs  and  antennae,  and  yellowish  abdomen.  She  is  cov- 
ered with  a  white  mealy  powder,  and  has  a  tuft  of  white  down  grow- 
ing upon  the  hinder  part  of  her  back  which  is  easily  detached.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  the  insects  are  wingless,  and  the  young  are  produced 
alive,  but  about  the  middle  of  October,  among  the  wingless  specimens 
appear  a  considerable  number  with  wings,  and  these  have  but  little  of 
the  downy  substance  upon  their  bodies,  which  are  nearly  black  and 
rather  plump.  The  fore  wings  are  large  and  about  twice  as  long  as 
the  narrower  hind  wings.  Late  in  the  autumn  the  females  deposit 
eggs  for  another  generation  the  following  spring,  a  fact  which  should 
induce  fruit  growers  to  take  particular  pains  to  destroy  these  lice 
wherever  fouud,  for  the  colony  that  is  permitted  to  establish  itself 
upon  some  worthless  tree,  or  on  the  shoots  or  suckers  at  its  base,  will 
furnish  the  parents  of  countless  hosts  that  may  establish  themselves 
next  year  on  the  choicest  trees  in  the  orchard.  The  insects  are  ex- 
tremely hardy  and  will  endure  a  considerable  amount  of  frost,  and  it 
is  quite  probable  that  some  of  them  survive  the  winter  in  the  perfect 
state  in  the  cracks  of  the  bark  of  the  trees. 

"The  eggs  are  so  small  that  they  require  a  magnifying  glass  to  en- 
able one  to  see  them,  and  are  deposited  in  the  crevices  of  the  bark  at 
or  near  the  surface  of  the  ground,  especially  about  the  base  of  suckers, 
where  such  are  permitted  to  grow. 

"The  young,  when  first  hatched,  are  covered  with  very  fine  down, 
and  appear  in  the  spring  of  the  year  like  little  specks  of  mold  on  the 
trees.  As  the  season  advances,  and  the  insect  increases  in  size,  its 
cottony  coating  becomes  more  distinct,  the  fibers  increasing  in  length 
and  apparently  issuing  from  all  the  pores  of  the  skin  of  the  abdomen. 
This  coating  is  very  easily  removed,  adhering  to  the  fingers  when 
touched.  Both  young  and  old  derive  their  nourishment  from  the  sap 
of  the  tree,  and  the  constant  punctures  they  make  give  rise  to  warts 
and  excrescences  on  the  bark,  and  openings  in  it,  and,  where  very  nu- 
merous, the  limbs  attacked  become  sickly,  the  leaves  turn  yellow  and 
drop  off,  and  sometimes  the  tree  dies." 

This  louse  was  noticed  as  early  as  1848,  at  which  time  it  was  found 
upon  thousands  of  small  trees  in  such  large  numbers  that  the  destruc- 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FEUIT. 


143 


tiou  of  the  trees  was  necessary.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  gradually 
spreading  over  the  country  until  it  has  become  quite  general,  save  in 
isolated  localities. 

REMEDIES. 

Like  all  other  plant  lice,  the  present  species  is  preyed  upon  by  a 
large  number  of  predaceous  and  parasitic  insects,  such  as  lady-birds, 
lace-wing  flies,  syrphus  flies,  and  several  very  minute  hymenopterous 
l)arasites.     Some  of  these  are  shown  in  Figs.  2  to  8. 


Fig.  2.— The  Root-louse  Syrphus-fly  {Pipiza  radicum): 
a,  larva  or  maggot;  b,  puparia;  c,  fly.    [After  Riley.] 


Fig.    5.—  Hippodamia    IS- 
punctata.    [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  7  — Hippodamia  macu- 
[Afier  Riley.] 


Fig.  8.— Lace-wings:  o,  eggs  on  leaf;  ft,  larva ;  c,  d,  mature  insect.    [After  Riley.] 

When  artificial  means  must  be  employed,  and  this  should  be  done 
just  as  soon  as  the  lice  first  appear,  the  "  kerosene  emulsion  "  remedy 
should  be  applied  to  the  above  ground  form,  while  for  the  root  form 
Saunders  writes :  "  The  most  successful  means  yet  devised  for  destroy- 


144  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

ing  these  root  lice  is  the  use  of  scalding  hot  water  freely  poured 
around  the  roots  of  the  trees.  If  the  trees  are  to  remain  in  the  soil, 
the  roots  may  be  laid  bare,  and  the  water  used  nearly  boiling  without 
injury;  but  where  they  have  been  taken  up  for  the  purpose  of  trans- 
planting, and  are  to  be  dipped  in  the  hot  water,  the  temperature  should 
not  exceed  150°  Fahr.;  under  these  circumstances,  from  120°  to  150° 
would  Liffice  for  the  purpose.  A  mulch  placed  around  the  trees  for 
some  time  previous  to  treatment  has  been  found  useful  in  bringing  the 
lice  to  the  surface,  where  they  can  be  more  readily  reached  by  the  hot 
water.  Drenching  the  roots  with  soap-suds  has  also  been  recom- 
mended, to  be  followed  by  a  liberal  dressing  of  ashes  on  the  surface." 

THE  APPLE-TREE  APHIS. 

{Aphis  mail  Fabr.) 

Recently  another  plant  louse  has  been  doing  considerable  injury  to 
the  apple  trees  in  some  portions  of  eastern  and  southeastern  Nebraska. 
This  latter  insect  is  the  one  commonly  known  as  the  Apple-tree  Aphis. 
It  differs  considerably  from  the  root  louse  of  the  apple  in  several 
points,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  figures  9  and  10,  the  former 
representing  a  wingless  and  the  latter  a  winged  louse.  As  will  be 
seen  in  the  figures,  this  louse  of  both  forms  is  provided  with  a  pair  of 


Fig.  9— The  Apple-tree  Aphis  (^pftjsmaH),  winged  Fig.  10.— The  Apple-tree  Aphis 

viviparous  lemale.     [Original,  drawing  by  T.  A.  (Aphis  mail),  apterous  vivipar- 

Williams.]  ous  female.    [After  Weed.] 

honey  tubes,  which  issue  from  the  upper  surface  of  the  abdomen  near 
its  apex.  It  also  has  the  body  destitute  of  any  covering  like  that 
found  upon  the  root  louse;  and  its  antennae  or  feelers  are  as  long  as 
its  body,  while  the  legs  are  also  long  and  slender.     In  color  the  Ap- 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  145 

pie-tree  Aphis  is  green  or  greenish  yellow,  the  winged  specimens,  as 
well  as  the  apterous,  being  marked  to  some  extent  with  black. 

The  presence  of  this  louse  in  an  orchard  can  be  readily  detected  by 
the  curled  appearance  of  the  leaves  which  it  infests.  When  the  in- 
sects attack  a  leaf  it  curls  or  twists  around  so  as  to  shelter  them  from 
rain,  as  well  as  to  afford  a  partial  protection  against  its  natural  ene- 
mies. The  life-history  of  this  plant  louse  is  given  briefly  as  follows 
by  the  author  already  quoted : 

"During  the  winter  there  may  often  be  found  in  the  crevices  and 
cracks  of  the  bark  of  twigs  of  the  apple  tree,  and  also  about  the  base 
of  the  buds,  a  number  of  very  minute,  oval,  shining  black  eggs. 
These  are  the  eggs  of  the  Apple-tree  Aphis,  known  also  as  the  Apple- 
leaf  Aphis,  Aphis  malifolice  Fitch.  They  are  deposited  in  the  autumn, 
and  when  first  laid  are  of  a  light  yellow  or  green  color,  but  gradually 
become  darker,  and  finally  black. 

"As  soon  as  the  buds  begin  to  expand  in  the  spring,  these  eggs 
hatch  into  tiny  lice,  which  locate  themselves  upon  the  swelling  buds 
and  the  small,  tender  leaves,  and,  inserting  their  beaks,  feed  on  the 
juices.  All  the  lice  thus  hatched  at  this  period  of  the  year  are  [vivi- 
parous] females,  and  i^ach  maturity  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  when  they 
commence  to  give  birth  to  living  young,  producing  about  two  daily 
for  two  or  three  weeks,  after  which  the  older  ones  die.  The  young 
locate  about  the  parents  as  closely  as  they  can  stow  themselves,  and 
they  also  mature  and  become  mothers  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  and  are 
as  prolific  as  their  predecessors.  They  thus  increase  so  rapidly  that  as 
fast  as  new  leaves  expand  colonies  are  ready  to  occupy  them.  As  the 
season  advances,  some  of  the  lice  acquire  wings,  and,  dispersing,  found 
new  colonies  on  other  trees.  When  cold  weather  approaches,  males  as 
well  as  females  are  produced,  and  the  season  closes  with  the  deposit  of 
a  stock  of  eggs  for  the  continuance  of  the  species  another  year." 

The  habits  of  this  aphis  are  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Box-elder 
Plant-louse,  mentioned  in  the  report  for  1889;  and  it  is  usually  kept 
within  bounds  by  the  same  insect  enemies  that  attack  that  and  other 
plant  lice. 

REMEDIES. 

The  kerosene  emulsion,  if  sprayed  over  the  trees  at  the  time  of 
batching  or  afterwards,  will  kill  all  the  lice  that  it  reaches.     If  strong 


146  INSECT  ENEMIES  OE  THE 

soap-suds  are  sprayed  upon  the  trees  at  the  time  the  buds  are  opening, 
or  if  weak  lye  or  tobacco  water  be  used  instead,  many  of  the  young 
lice  will  be  destroyed.  Sounders  says  :  "A  frost  occurring  after  a  few 
days  of  warm  weather  will  kill  millions  of  them;  in  the  egg  state  the 
insects  can  endure  any  amount  of  frost,  but  the  young  aphides  quickly 
perish  when  the  temperature  falls  below  the  freezing-point." 


Fig.  11.— The  Apple  Aphis  parasite  Fig.  12.— The  Comely  La<iy-bird 

(Aphdinvs  mdi)—en\eLTge6.    [Af-  (Coccinella   wji»s/(i)  —  slightly 

terRlley.l  enlarged.    L^tier  Kiley.] 

The  predaceous  insects  that  attack  this  and  other  plant  lice  are 
shown  in  Figs.  3  to  8  and  also  Figs.  11  and  12.  All  of  these  are  our 
friends  and  should  become  familiar  to  us  so  that  we  can  protect  and 
assist  them  in  their  good  work. 

OYSTER-SHELL  BARK-LOUSE. 

[Mytilaspis  pomorum  Bouch6.) 

The  common  Oyster-shell  Bark-louse  of  the  apple  is  too  well  known 
by  orchardists  to  require  any  extended  description  here.  The  illus- 
trations of  the  insect 'in  figures  13  and  14  will  at  once  call  to  mind 
the  insect  which  is  meant.     Unlike  the  Maple  Scale,  this  insect  de- 

po.sits  her  eggs  during  late  sum- 
mer, where  they  remain  con- 
cealed beneath  the  shell  during 

fall  and  winter.      Nor  is  this 
Fig.  13.— Piece  of  bark  containing  scales  of  Oyster-  ,  ,  , .  „  . 

shell  Bark-Louse.   [After  Kiiey.]  scale  nearly  SO  proline  as  tlie 

one  just  referred  to,  since  but  from  sixty  to  seventy-five  eggs  are  laid  by 

each  female,  whereas  the  other  species  is  known  to  deposit  from  one 

to  two  thousand.     Aside  from  this  the  life-histories  of  the  two  insects 

are  near  enough  alike  to  need  no  further  mention  here.     The  male 

alone  is  winged,  and  issues  during  the  summer. 

EEMEDIES. 

The  very  best  direct  remedy  against  this  bark  louse  is  the  use  of 


APPLE  TEEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


147 


kerosene  emulsion  at  the  time  when  the  young  are  hatcliing  and  wan- 
dering about  over  the  trees.     One  or  two  careful  sprayings  at  such 


Fig.  14.— Oyster-sheU  Bark-louse  {Mytilaspis  pomorum):  1,  egg;  2,  larva 
when  first  hatched ;  3,  larva  when  forming  scale ;  4,  scale  after  second 
plate  is  formed  ;  5,  6,  forms  of  louse  taken  from  scale;  7,  fully  formed 
scale— all  greatly  enlarged.    [After  Riley.] 

times  will  effectually  destroy  the  insects.     The  use  of  alkali  washes  is 
also  strongly  recommended  as  remedies  for  this  and  other  coccids. 

THE  SCURFY  APPLE-TREE   BARK-LOUSE. 

{Chionaspis  furfurus  Fitch.) 

A  second  species  of  scale  also  works  on  our  apple  trees  here  in  the 
state.  It  is  the  one  known  to  the  entomologist  as  Chionaspis  furfurus. 
This  second  Apple-tree  Bark-louse  can  be  distinguished  from  the  one 
just  treated,  which  is  brownish,  by  its  dirty  white  color.  Still  other 
species  of  scale  insects  are  known  to  attack  the  apple  in  other  regions. 
(See  list  of  apple  insects  on  preceding  pages.) 

REMEDIES. 

As  a  rule  these  lice  are  kept  pretty  well  within  bounds  by  a  large 
number  of  parasites  and  predaceous  insects  that  prey  upon  both  the 
young  and  old.  Of  these  the  Twice- wounded  Ladybird  (CAiVocorws 
bivulnerus)  is  the  most  important,  since  it  works  upon  the  lice  both  as 
old  and  young;  and  often  occurs  in  such  numbers  as  to  completely  dot 
the  infested  tree-trunks  with  their  glossy-black  bodies.  I  have  counted 
as  many  as  200  of  this  beetle  upon  a  single  small  limb  of  a  tree  that  was 
infested  by  the  Maple-tree  Scale.  Several  other  "  lady-birds  "  are  also 
known  to  destroy  these  lice.  Among  the  true  parasites  that  infest 
these  insects  I  have  bred  at  least  four  or  more  distinct  species  from 
specimens  of  the  Maple  Scale   taken    here   in  the  city  of  Lincoln. 


148 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


Whether  or  not  any  of  these  are  the  same  as  those  mentioned  by  other 
writers,  I  am  unable  to  state,  since  I  have  not  taken  time  to  look  them 
up  or  send  them  away  for  determination. 

THE  BUFFALO  TREE-HOPPER. 

(Ceresa  bvhalus  Fabr.) 

One  of  our  most  troublesome 
insect  pests  here  in  the  west  is 
the  one  known  to  the  general 
public  by  the  name  of  Buffalo 
Tree-hopper;  and  to  the  ento- 
mologist as  the  Ceresa  huhalus. 
The  insect  certainly  does  bear 
a  striking  likeness  to  the  ani- 
mal for  which  it  is  named. 
(See  Fig.  15,  d.) 

The  insect  may  be  known  by 
the  following  brief  description : 
The  insect  is  green  in  color,  is 
hunchbacked,  about  one-fourth 
to  one-third  of  an  inch  in 
length,  and  is  a  great  jumper. 
In  its  movements  it  is  very  ac- 
tive, and  at  the  appearance  of 
an  enemy  will  very  quickly 
dart  around  to  the  opposite 
side  of  the  twig  upon  which  it 
is  perched.  Like  all  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  order  to  which  it  belongs,  it  is  a  sucker,  i.  e.,  it 
takes  its  nourishment  by  means  of  a  beak  which  it  inserts  into  the 
stems  of  tender  and  growing  plants.  The  injury  inflicted  by  this  and 
other  tree-hoppers  when  feeding  is  sometimes  very  great;  but  in  this 
particular  case  the  greatest  damage  is  occasioned  by  the  female  in  the 
deposition  of  its  eggs.  Professor  Riley  has  described  these  egg-punct- 
ures as  follows  in  his  Fifth  Missouri  Report:  "The  punctures  consist 
of  a  row,  more  or  less  straight,  of  little  raised  slits  in  the  bark,  in  each 
of  which,  upon  careful  examination,  may  be  found  an  oval,  dark-col- 
ored egg.     These  eggs  hatch  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  the  young 


cUttliuaTc. 


Fig.  15.— Ceresa  bubalus:  a,  natural  size  ;  b,  enlarged ; 
c,  punctures  on  twig  ;  d,  n  dull  tree-hopper;  e,  same 
from  above.    L-A-fter  Poponoe.] 


APPLE  TBEE  AND  ITS  FKUIT.  149 

are  at  first  browuish,  with  a  formidable  row  often  pairs  of  compound 
spines,  and  looking  totally  unlike  the  mature  insect." 

EEMEDIES. 

Professor  Herbert  Osborn,  of  the  Iowa  Agricultural  College,  has 
quite  recently  treated  this  insect  in  the  Orange  Judd  Former,  and  in 
the  article  under  consideration  has  the  following  to  say  about  handling 
it:  "  The  insect  is  a  difficult  one  to  deal  with,  as  it  lives  by  punctur- 
ing the  plants  upon  which  it  feeds  with  its  suctorial  mouth-parts,  so 
that  it  cannot  be  reached  by  arsenical  applications ;  and  they  are  scat- 
tered over  such  a  variety  of  plants  that  the  application  of  kerosene 
emulsion  is  not  practicable.  It  often  happens  that  the  punctures  oc- 
cur in  great  numbers  on  certain  trees,  or  on  certain  branches  of  a  tree, 
and  in  such  cases  some  degree  of  protection  is  secured  for  the  follow- 
ing year  by  trimming  off  the  injured  twigs  and  burning  them." 

Various  other  tree-hoppers  also  frequently  attack  the  apple  trees 
and  by  their  combined  efforts  do  much  injury.  When  these  are  found 
upon  young  trees  in  the  nursery,  kerosene  emulsion,  if  sprayed  upon 
them,  will  do  much  towards  remedying  the  evil. 

THE  TARNISH  PLANT-BUG. 

{Lygus  pratensis  Linn.) 

Another  of  the  insects  that  appears  on  almost 
every  list  of  insect  enemies  is  the  one  figured  here- 
with (Fig.  16).  It  is  known  as  the  Tarnish  Plant- 
bug,  Lygus  pratensk,  and  often  is  the  cause  of 
considerable  damage  during  early  spring  by  gath- 
ering in  great  numbers  upon  opening  buds  and 
blossoms  from  which  it  sucks  the  vitality  by 
inserting  its  beak  and  extracting  the  sap.  It  hi- 
bernates in  all  kinds  of  sheltered  places,  and  as  pi''^  le.-Tamish  piam 
soon  as  vegetation  starts  in  the  spring  comes  forth  [Tfter^Kfieyr"'^'""'^' 
hungry  and  prepared  for  work. 

REMEDIES. 

Since  it  breeds  on  weeds  of  various  kinds  in  large  numbers,  clean 
culture  is  one  of  the  best  preventive  measures  that  we  can  recomm-nd. 
The  kerosene  emulsion,  if  applied  to  the  trees  when  the  insect  is  at  work, 
will  also  prove  beneficial. 


150 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


THE  FALSE  CHINCH-BUG. 

{Nysius  angustatus  Uhl.) 

The  insect  which  is  shown  herewith  in  Fig.  17, 
quite  frequently  becomes  very  numerous  during  fall 
and  spring  and  then  gathers  upon  young  trees  in  the 
nursery  where  it  does  much  injury  by  sucking  the 
sap  and  killing  the  new  growths.  It  naturally  feeds 
upon  a  number  of  our  most  common  weeds,  and 
therefore  is  most  frequently  destructive  in  localities 
where  these  weeds  have  been  allowed  to  grow  up  dur- 
ing late  summer  and  fall. 

REMEDIES. 

Clean  culture  throughout  the  summer  and  fall  is,  of  course,  the  most 
sure  remedy  for  this  and  several  other  weed^feeding  bugs.  When 
present  and  causing  their  injury  the  kerosene  emulsion  will  act  as  a 
safeguard. 

THE  PEAK-TREE  PSYLLA. ' 

( Psylla  i^yri  Sch  m  id  b. ) 

An  insect  that  sometimes  occurs  upon  the  apple  tree  is  shown  here- 
with (See  Fig.  18).     It  is  known  as  the  "Pear-tree  Psylla"  because 


Fig.  n.—Nytius 
angustatus.  [After 
Kiley.] 


Fig.  18.— The  Pear-tree  Psylla  {Psijlla  pyri).    [After  Sauuderg.] 

t  is  more  frequently  found  as  an  enemy  of  that  tree  than  of  the  apple. 
In  describing  this  insect  Saunders  uses  the  following  language:* 

"During  the  middle  of  May,  when  growth  is  rapid,  the  smaller  limbs 
and  twigs  of  pear  trees  are  sometimes  observed  to  droop;  a  close  ex- 
amination reveals  copious  exudation  of  sap  from  about  the  axils  of 
*'•  Insects  Injurious  to  Fruits,"  by  Wm.  Saunders.     J.  B.  Lippencott  &  Co. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


151 


the  leaves,  so  abundant  that  it  drops  upon  the  foliage  below,  and  some- 
times runs  down  the  branches  to  the  ground.  FJies  and  ants  gather 
around  in  crowds  to  sip  the  sweets,  and  by  their  busy  bustle  draw  at- 
tention to  the  mischief  progressing.  With  a  magnifying  lens  the 
authors  of  the  injury  may  be  observed  immersed  in  the  sap  about  the 
axils  of  the  leaves." 

The  insect  is  "a  small,  yellow,  jumping  creature,  flattened  in  form 
and  provided  with  short  legs,  a  broad  head,  and  sharp  beak."  Like 
the  Aphididse  this  insect  lives  upon  the  sap  of  the  tree  and  when 
numerous  causes  it  to  wither  and  droop. 


The  kerosene  emulsion,  if  applied  as  directed  for  other  plant  lice, 
will  be  quite  effective  in  ridding  trees  of  this  insect. 


THE  BOX-ELDER  BUG. 

{Leptocoris  trivittatus  Say.) 

Everyone  in  this  western  country  is  familiar  with 
the  insect  of  which  the  accompanying  figure  is  an  en- 
larged drawing.  However  familiar  many  of  us  may 
be  with  this  insect,  most  of  us  are  undoubtedly  ig- 
norant as  to  its  habits,  mode  of  life,  enemies,  etc.  To 
include  all  of  this  here  would,  of  course,  occupy  too 
much  space.  Suffice  it  at  present  then  for  me  to  give 
a  few  of  the  general  points  in  connection  with  its  life 
history. 

This  is  the  dark  slate-colored  bug,  with  red  border 
and  median  line  of  same  color,  that  is  so  common 
about  houses  and  out-buildings  during  fall,  when  it 
frequently  becomes  a  nuisance  on  account  of  its  habit 
of  crawling  over  and  into  different  things  left  standing  about  the 
house.  In  form  it  is  somewhat  flattened,  about  one-third  as  broad  as 
long.  Its  length,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  hair  line  at  the  right  of  the 
figure,  is  about  one-half  of  an  inch.  Wlien  handled  or  disturbed  it 
emits  a  pungent  or  disagreeable  odor,  adding  to  its  odiousness. 

Aside  from  the  box-elder  tree,  it  also  frequently  gathers  upon  ap- 
ples and  other  fruit  which  it  j)nnctures  with  its  beak  and  renders  un- 
palatable if  it  does  not  destroy  them. 


Fig.  19.— The  Box- 
elder  Bust  (Lrp- 
tncoris  trivittiUui:). 
[Original.] 


152  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


EEMEDY. 


On  account  of  its  habit  of  gathering  into  great  clusters,  it  is  not 
difficult  to  wage  war  against  this  bug.  When  thus  gathered  upon  the 
ground,  on  walls  of  buildings,  or  upon  the  trunks  of  trees,  it  can 
readily  be  destroyed  by  the  use  of  kerosene  or  boiling  water.  Birds 
and  other  insectivorous  animals  are  not  very  partial  to  it,  nor  to  any 
of  the  members  of  the  order  to  which  it  belongs,  all  of  which  are  very 
"  odoriferous,"  and  presumably  not  especially  delightful  to  the  taste. 

BORING  BEETLES. 

Very  prominent  among  the  insect  enemies  of  the  apple  tree  in  this 
country  are  a  number  of  kinds  of  boring  beetles.  These  may  be  sep- 
arated into  three  groups,  viz.,  flat-head,  round-head,  and  bark- 
borers.  These  bori\ig  beetles  belong  to  several  distinct  families  and 
work  upon  the  trees  which  they  attack  in  different  ways.  Some  of 
them  bore  directly  into  the  heart  of  the  larger  limbs  and  the  trunk, 
others  work  immediately  under  the  bark  upon  the  sap  wood,  while 
still  others  work  in  and  destroy  the  twigs  and  smaller  branches. 

FLAT-HEADED  WOOD-BORERS. 

(Buprestidce.) 

Very  prominent  among  these  wood  boring 
insects  of  the  apple  tree  are  those  known  as 
the  flat-headed  wood-borers  (Buprestidce). 
This  name  is  given  them  on  account  of  the 
structure  of  their  larvfe.  One  of  these  is 
FiQ.  20— chrysobothris fcmoratus :  showu    in     the    accompanying:     illustration 

beetle  and  larva.  [After  Riley.]    ,^,       ^^.  ,         .    ,  .,,      ^    ,       ,  „ 

(Fig.  20)  at  the  right.  All  of  the  larvfe  of 
the  representatives  of  this  family  are  thus  characterized,  though  they 
vary  much  in  size  and  general  appearance.  Several  of  the  others  of 
these  flat-headed  boring  beetles  are  shown  in  Figures  21,  22,  and  23. 
All  of  them  are  more  or  less  metallic  in  their  colors  and  sculptured 
with  ridges,  lines,  and  depressions  as  are  shown  by  the  illustrations. 

REMEDIES. 

Most  of  these  flat-headed  borers  can  be  kept  in  check  by  washing 
the  trunks  of  the  trees  which  they  infest  with  a  strong  soap  solution, 


H 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


153 


or  by  whitewashing  them  about  the  time  the  insects'  eggs  are  laid 
The  borers  can  also  be  grubbed  out  with  a  sharp  knife  and  destroyed 
after  they  have  entered  the  bark.     In  the  woods  and  away  from  cities 


Fig.  21.— Chnlcophora  vir- 
giniensis.    [Marx.] 


Fig.  i2.—Chalcophora  lib- 
nata.    [Marx.] 


Fia.  iS.—Dicerca  divericata. 
[Marx.] 

and  towns  they  are  greatly  infested  by  parasites  tiiat  kill  them  oif, 
and  they  are  also  eagerly  sought  out  and  devoured  by  the  different 
species  of  woodpeckers  that  make  this  sort  of  work  their  special  busi- 
ness. Much  good  can  also  be  done  at  times  in  the  way  of  capturing 
and  destroying  the  mature  beetles  as  they  are  found  basking  in  the 
bright  sunshine  upon  their  favorite  trees. 


ROUND-HEADED  WOOD-BORERS. 

(Cerambycidce.) 

Certain  others  of  the  wood-boring  beetles  have  been  called  "  Round- 
headed  "  as  distinguished  from  the  "Flat-headed"  borers  referred  to 
above.     These  round-headed  borers  are  the  larvae  of  the  Long-horn 


12  3 

Fig.  24.— Round-headed  Apple-tree  Borer  {Saperda  Candida) :  1,  larva;  2,  pupa;  3,  imago.    [After 
Riley.] 

beetles  of  the  family   Cerambycidce.     They  are  shown  in  figure  24. 
These  borers  usually  bore  directly  into  the  heart  of  the  wood  and  there 


154 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


do  much  injury  to  the  trees  which  they  infest.     Some  of  these  borers 
are  described  more  fully  below,  where  the  remedies  are  given  for  each. 


Fig.  25.— Oviposition  and  exit  of  the  Round-Headed  Apple-irce  Borer  :  a,  wound  where  esg  is 
deposited  ;  b,  s  ime,  with  the  wood  split  lengthwise  along  the  line  (a,  e),  and  turned  so  as  to 
show  an  ejrg  in  place;  c,  same,  with  ihe  bark  split  on  the  same  line  and  removed  to  the  left, 
80  as  to  show  Ihe  manner  in  which  the  egg  is  commonly  thrust  to  one  side  under  ihe  bark;  d, 
the  egg,  enlari;ed  ;  e,  hole  of  exit  of  beetle  ;  /,  (he  same,  as  it  appears  from  the  side  when  split 
along  the  line  (a,  t);  g,  ihe  burrow,  as  il  appears  while  the  insect  is  in  the  pupa  state,  and  be- 
fore the  baik  is  perforated.    [After  Riley.] 


TWIG  GIRDLER  AND  TWIG  PRUNERS. 

Not  unfrequently  do  we  find  limbs  and  small  branches  of  our  fruit 
trees  lying  upon  the  ground  where  they  have  fallen  during  ordinary 
wind  storms.  An  examination  shows  that  they  have  been  cut  off  by 
something  or  other,  but  "just  what  this  something  has  been  is  a  mys- 
tery to  most  of  us.  A  reference  to  the  accompanying  illustrations 
(Figs.  26  and  27),  will  at  once  explain  the  mystery.  Both  the  "Twig 
Girdler  "  and  several  species  of  the  pruners  occur  within  the  state  where 
I  hey  cause  more  or  less  injury.  In  the  case  of  the  girdler  (Fig.  26), 
it  appears  that  the  larva  must  feed  upon  dead  wood,  and  that  this 
dead  wood  must  be  in  a  special  condition.  To  this  end  the  female 
l)eetle  punctures  the  twigs  and  lays  her  eggs  as  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion at  6.  She  then  proceeds  to  gnaw  a  groove  around  the  branch  be- 
low the  point  where  the  egg  was  deposited.  The  branch  dies  and  the 
borer  has  dead  wood  upon  which  to  feed.  The  further  growth  and 
transformations  of  tiie  insect  take  place  within  the  stick  upon  the 
!i,round.  With  the  pruners  the  eggs  of  the  female  insects  are  laid  in 
the  living  branches  and  the  cutting  off  is  done  by  the  borers  when 


APPLE  TEEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


155 


just  about  fully  grovvu.     They  cut  off  the  woody  portion,   leaving 
only  a  small  part  of  the  bark  intact.     The  result  is  that  with  the  fall 


Fig.  26.— The  Twig  Girdler  (On- 
cideres  ciiigulata):  a,  beetle;  6, 
puncture  showing  where  ihe 
egg  is  laid  ;  c,  girdling  lo  cause 
upper  portion  to  die;  e,  egg. 
[After  Riley.] 


Fig.  27  —Twig  Pruner :  a,  larva;  6,  pupa; 
c,  beetle.    [Riley.] 


winds  the  limbs  fall  to  the  ground  and  the  insect  finds  a  shelter  anaong 
the  fallen  leaves,  as  well  as  protection  from  birds  and  parasites.  The 
figure,  27,  will  explain  this  sufficiently  well. 


REMEDIES. 

Gather  the  fallen  limbs  during  fall, 
burn  them. 


'inter,  or  early  spring,  and 


THE  BROAD-NECKED  PRIONUS. 

{Prionus  laticoUis  Drury.) 

Among  the  different  species  of  long-horned  boring  beetles  that  at- 
tack the  apple  tree  the  one  herewith  illustrated  is  the  largest. 


It 


Fig.  28.— The  Broad-necked  Prionus  {Pi 


shown  in  the  larva,  pupa,  and  imago  stages  in  Figs  28,  29,  and  30, 
respectively,  all  natural  size.  In  color  the  larva  is  yellowish  white, 
with  its  small  horny  head  reddish  brown.    The  pupa  is  also  light  col- 


156  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

ored,  while  the  beetle  is  dark  mahogany  brown,  inclining  to  black  in 
some  specimens. 

The  larvae  of  this  and  allied  species  bore  in  the  roots  of  the  plants 
which  they  injure;  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  are  three  years  in 
attaining  their  growth.  These  borers,  although  so  very  large,  often 
work  upon  roots  smaller  than  their  own  diameter,  and  in  consequence 
are  often  plowed  up  in  breaking  prairie. 

EEMEDIES. 

These  underground 
borers  are  the  most  diffi- 
cult of  all  our  insect  en- 
emies to  fight,  and  must 
be  dealt  with  singly.  In 
other  words  each  larva 
must  be  searched  for  and 
and  destroyed.  Happily 
for  us  the  insects  are  not 
very  numerous,  and  hence 
rarely    become    a     pest. 

Fig.  29.— The  Broad-  Fio.  30— The  Broad-necked  Pri-    rnt     •  •. 

necked    Prionus:  onus:    beetle,    female.     [After     Ihcir    presence  Cau    qUltC 

ley.]'  '  readily    be    detected    by 

the  sudden  death  of  the  plants  which  have  been  attacked.  (It  also 
destroys  young  apple  and  other  trees  growing  in  nursery  rows  which 
it  follows  and  takes  one  after  the  other.) 

THE  APPLE-TWIG  BORER. 

(Amphicei'us  bicaudatus  Say.) 

The  insect  that  is  figured  herewith  (Fig.  31)  in  all  its  stages  of 
growth,  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  best  known  insects  that  attack  apple 
trees  here  in  the  west.  The  beetle,  which  is  shown  in  the  illustration 
at  a  and  b,  is  known  by  its  methods  of  attack  from  all  other  enemies 
of  the  tree.  In  winter  it  is  found  in  the  twigs,  where  it  enters  at  the 
axils  and  bores  down  the  center  a  half  inch  or  more,  and  remains  over 
winter.  The  point  beyond  the  attack  usually  dies.  Although  so  often 
found  in  twigs  of  the  apple  and  pear  trees  the  insect  breeds  in  other 
localities.  Its  life-history  has  been  studied  by  Prof.  Popenoe,  of  the 
Kansas  Agricultural  College. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


157 


REMEDIES. 


Gathering  and  burning  the  twigs  containing  the  insects  seems  to  be 
about  the  only  remedy  that  we  have  for  this  species.  It  is  also  at- 
tacked by  several  parasites  that  do  much  towards  keeping  it  in  check. 


Fig.  31. — The  Apple-twig  Borer  (Amphicerus  Mcaudahis) :  a,  female  beetle  from  above;  b,  ouiliue 
side  view  of  male;  c,  antenna;  d,  full-growu  larva  ;  e,  head  and  antenna  of  do.;  /,  right  legs 
of  do.;  g,  front  view  of  pupa,  in  outline;  h,  twig  showing,  above,  the  larval  burrow  packed 
with  castings,  and  below,  the  pupa  in  its  cell.  The  figures,  excepting  h,  which  is  na  ural  size, 
are  enlarged,  the  hair-lines  at  the  side  showing  natural  size.  [After  Popenoc— drawings  by 
C.  L.  Marlatt.] 


THE  RED-SHOULDERED  SINOXYLON. 

{Sinoxylon  basilare  Say.) 

A  not  uncommon  insect  in  portions  of  eastern  and  middle  Ne- 
braska is  the  one  shown  in  its  different  stages  of  larva,  pupa,  and 
imago  in  the  accompanying  illustration  (Fig.  32).  As  will  be  noticed 
by  the  comparison  of  the  figures,  it  is  related  to  the  beetle  so  com- 
monly known  as  the  Apple-twig  Borer.  Like  that  insect  it  also  at- 
tacks the  grapevine  and  various  fruit  trees  in  the  stems  and  limbs  of 
which  it  bores,  often  doing  a  vast  amount  of  injury  to  these  plants. 


158  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

The  grub,  or  larva,  which  is  shown 
at  a  in  the  illustration,  is  about  three- 
tenths  of  an  inch  in  length,  of  a  dirty 
yellowish-white  color,  and  has  the 
anterior  end  somewhat  enlarged.  Its 
normal  position  is  that  shown  in  the 
Fig.  32.— The  Red-shouldered  sinoxyion  (s.   picture,  L  c,  with  the  body  arched 

6asi7are):  a,  larva;   b,  pupa;  e,  imago— all  ,  i        mi  •        r>  .i 

enlarged.    [After  Riley.]  Or  boweU.       ihe  pupa  IS  01  the  Same 

general  color  as  that  of  the  larva,  and  is  to  be  found  in  the  burrows 
made  by  it.  The  beetle  is  of  the  length  of  the  line  at  its  right  in  the 
illustration,  and  is  black  in  color,  with  the  basal  portion  of  the  elytra 
or  wing-covers  red. 

REMEDIES. 

Like  the  Twig  Borer,  this  beetle  is  more  or  less  frequently  destroyed 
by  several  kinds  of  four-winged  parasites,  which  generally  keep  the 
insect  within  reasonable  control.  Occasionally,  however,  it  gets  a 
start  in  an  orchard  or  vineyard ;  especially  is  this  the  case  where  neg- 
lect is  the  rule  of  the  owner.  Then  the  heroic  remedy  only  can  be 
recommended,  viz.,  the  pruning  and  burning  of  the  infested  canes  and 
branches  along  with  their  contents. 

BARK-BORING  BEETLES. 

(Scolytidce.) 

A  reference  to  figures  33  and  34  will  show  the  readers  of  this  paper 
the  appearance  and  method  of  attack  of  another  group  of  boring 
beetles  that  occasionally  do  much  harm  to  trees  of  various  kinds. 
These  insects  not  only  work  on  trees  grown  for  shade  and  ornamental 
purposes,  but  also  upon  those  in  the  orchard  and  forests. 
'  While  these  insects  usually  attack  dead  or  dying  trees,  they  some- 
times do  considerable  injury  to  living  trees  also.  Their  mode  of  at- 
tack is  as  follows:  The  mature  insects  bore  into  the  bark  until  they 
reach  the  wood,  when  they  dig  a  longitudinal  burrow  between  the  bark 
and  wood,  or  rather  partly  in  the  bark  and  partly  in  the  sap-wood. 
Along  the  edges  of  this  gallery  eggs  are  laid  and  the  young  larvae  be- 
gin feeding  and  growing,  digging  as  they  advance  lateral  galleries  of 
increasing  size  as  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustrations  (Figs.  34 
and  35,  c).    When  mature  some  species  of  these  beetles  enter  the  wood 


APPLE  TltEE  AND  ITS  FEUIT. 


159 


quite  deeply,  others  simply  remain  between  the  wood  and  bark  when 
they  transform. 

The  Fruit  Bark-beetle  (Scolytus  rugulosus),  which  is  shown  along 
with  its  work  (See  Fig.  35,  a,  b,  e.),  has  become  quite  a  pest  in  some 


Fig.  33— Tomwus  ca  ographus. 
[Marx.' 


Fig.  34.— Mine  of  Scolytus  unispino- 
sus.    [After  J.  B.  Smith.] 


parts  of  the  United  States,  and  certainly  needs  to  be  watched  in  this 
state.  It  is  especially  liable  to  attack-  such  of  our  trees  as  have  suf- 
fered from  blight. 

REMEDIES. 

It  is  quite  a  difficult  matter  to  fight  these  bark  borers,  and  we  are 
obliged  to  depend  mostly  on  their  natural  enemies  for  keeping  them 
in  check.  Professor  A.  S.  Packard,  in  treating  of  one  of  these  insects, 
writes  (5th  Kept.  U.  S.  Entomological  Commission,  p.  710)  as  follows, 
when  speaking  of  remedies: 

"This,  and  the  other  bark-beetles  of  the  pine,  have  numerous  insect 
enemies  which  wage  incessant  war  upon  them.  Various  species  of 
small  beetles  pertaining  to  the  families  Staphylinidce,  Hiakridce,  etc., 
are  always  to  be  met  with  under  the  loose  worm-eaten  bark  of  pines, 
and  M.  Perris  has  ascertained  that  these  insects  resort  to  this  situation 
for  the  purpose  of  rearing  their  young,  their  larvae  being  predaceous 
and  subsisting  upon  the  larvse  and  pupae  of  the  bark  beetles." 


160 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


Aside  from  the  good  work  that  is  done  by  the  above  mentioned 
friendly  insects  in  keeping  these  bark-borers  in  check,  it  is  a  good  plan 
to  gather  all  dead  or  dying  limbs,  branches,  and  even  trees  that  con- 
tain these  borers  and  burn  them  during  the  winter  months. 


¥iG.35.—Scolyiusruguloms:  a,  beetle,  enlarged  twenty  diameters;  6,  small  branch,  showing 
perforations  of  bark,  natural  size ;  c,  denuded  branch  showing  work  of  insect,  natural  size. 
[After  Forbes] 

THE  NEW  YORK  WEEVIL. 

[Idhycerus  noveborascensis  Forst.) 

An  insect  that  frequently  occurs  in  our  orchards,  and  one  that  some- 
times does  considerable  injury  to  different  fruit-trees,  is  what  has  been 
called  the  New  York  Weevil.  This  insect,  as  will  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  accompanying  figure,  is  a  snout-beetle  of  large  size.  It  is 
an  early  arrival  in  spring,  and  frequently  does  much  harm  by  eating 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


161 


the  buds  and  bark  of  the  twigs.  It  also  gnaws  into  the  bases  of 
twigs  and  causes  them  to  fall,  as  well  as  eats  off  the  leaves  later  in  the 
season.  Besides  all  this,  it  has  the  habit  of  devouring  the  tender 
shoots  or  new  growths. 

Like  the  Imbricated  Snout  Beetle,  this  weevil 
is  gray.  Saunders,  in  speaking  of  this  insect,  in 
his  work  entitled  "  Insects  Injurious  to  Fruits," 
says,  "  The  beetle  is  said  to  be  more  active  at 
night  than  in  day,  and  seems  to  show  a  prefer- 
erence  for  the  tender,  succulent  shoots  of  the 
apple,  although  it  makes  quite  free  with  those 
of  the  peach,  pear,  plum,  and  cherry.  Some- 
times it  occurs  in  swarms  in  nurseries,  when  it 
seriously  injures  the  young  trees.  In  the  east 
it  is  seldom  present  in  sufficient  numbers 
to  prove  injurious,  but  it  is  very  common 
in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  larva 
is  found  in  the  twigs  and  tender  branches 
of  the  bur-oak,  and  probably  also  in  those  of 
the  pig-nut  hickory."  The  female,  when  about 
to  deposit  her  egg,  first  gnaws  a  slit  in  the  twig, 
as  shown  .at  a  in  the  figure.  This  egg  soon  hatches,  and  the  larva 
works  in  the  stem.  It  is  a  rather  large,  yellowish,  fleshy,  footless 
grub. 

REMEDIES. 

The  beetles  can  be  jarred  from  the  trees  into  some  sort  of  a  recep- 
tacle and  then  destroyed;  or  they  can  be  poisoned  by  spraying  with 
the  arsenites. 


Fig.  36.— The  New  York 
Weevil  [IcthycertLS  novebor- 
ascensis):  a,  twig  showing 
slit  for  egg;  b,  larva;  c, 
beetle— uatural  size.  [Af- 
ter Riley.] 


TREE-CRICKETS. 


Few  if  any  of  our  injurious  insects  are  more  widely  and  generally 
distributed  over  the  state,  and  for  that  matter  over  North  America, 
than  the  common  Snowy  Tree-cricket  {(Ecanthus  niveus)  which  is 
herewith  figured.  Figure  37  represents  the  female  and  Fig.  38  the 
male,  both  natural  size.  This  cricket,  as  the  name  implies,  is  whitish 
or  greenish-white.  It  is  a  very  common  insect,  and  can  readily  be 
recognized  by  the  accompanying  illustrations;  therefore  a  description 
of  it  is  unnecessary  here.      , 


162 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


While  this  particular  cricket  is  less  injurious  to  trees  and  shrubs 
than  are  many  other  indigenous  noxious  insects,  its  peculiar  mode  of 
attack  brings  it  into  notice  much  more  frequently  than  they.  By  ref- 
erence to  the  accompanying  figure  (Fig.  39)  which  is  intended  to  rep- 
resent a  raspberry  cane  that  has  been  iujuied  by  this  cricket,  its  mode 


Fig.  37.— Suowy  Tree-cricket  {CEcauthus  nivcus): 
female.    [After  Harris.] 


Fig.  38.— Snowy  Tree-cricket  (CEcanthus  nivcus): 
male.    [After  Harris.] 


Si    i 


Fig.  39.— Snowy  Tree-cricket:  o,  raspberry 
caue  showing  egg  punctures;  6,  trans- 
verse section;  c  and  d,  magnified  view 
of  egg.    [After  Kiley.] 


of  attack  can  be  seen.  Instead  of  destroying  the  plant  by  devouring 
the  foliage  or  twigs,  as  is  usually  the  case  with  insect  depredators,  this 
species  unintentionally  becomes  an  enemy  by  using  the  stems  of  vari- 
ous pithy  plants  as  receptacles  for  its  eggs  during  the  winter — the  re- 
sult being  alike  favorable  for  the  parent  and  progeny,  whether  the 
twigs  or  stems  die  or  live. 

REMEDIES. 

When  it  is  thought  necessary  to  fight  this  insect  its  eggs  should  be 
gathered  and  burnt.  Usually  it  is  a  benefit  rather  than  an  injury  to 
the  fruit-raiser,  since  the  food  of  this  and  allied  species  is  various 
plant-lice  and  other  small  soft-bodied  insects. 


APPLE  THEE  AND  IT8  FKUIT. 


163 


MOTH  WOOD-BORERS. 

(Cossidw  and  Sesiidce.) 

Some  of  our  most  destructive  borers  that  attack  fruit  and  other 
trees  are  those  belonging  to  the  order  Lepidoptera.  Of  these  moth- 
borers  there  are  two  well-defined  families,  Sesiidce  and  Cossidce.  The 
cossids  are  all  large-bodied  insects,  and  their  larvse  are  correspondingly 
large.  It  is  supposed  that  they  live  in  the  caterpillar  stage  three 
years. 


Fig.  40.— The  Leopird  Moth  (Zcuzrra  pyrinn):  a,  larva,  dorsal  view;  h,  larva,  side  view; 
moth;  d,  female  moth;  e,  larval  bu.  row— natural  size.     [Inject  Life.] 

The  insect  shown  in  figure  40  is  an  imported  one,  and  is  known  as 
tl>e  Leopard  moth  on  account  of  its  color — white  and  black  with 
brown  head  and  abdomen.  Scientifically  it  is  known  as  Zeuzera  py- 
rina.  It  is  a  very  general  feeder,  having  been  known  to  attack  maples, 
mulberry,  hackberry,  hickory,  thorn-apple,  sweet  gum,  tulip  tree,  oaks, 
basswood,  elms,  mountain  ash,  apple,  pear,  and  even  currant  bushes. 
The  eggs  of  this  moth  are  said  to  be  laid  near  the  crotch  of  a  tree  in 
a  group,  and  are  covered  by  a  loose,  fluflpy  substance. 


164: 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


REMEDIES. 

Where  these  insects  are  known  to  be  working  in  trees  they  can  be 
destroyed  by  injecting  a  small  quantity  of  bisulphide  of  carbon  into 
each  burrow,  after  which  the  opening  should  be  closed  with  clay.  The 
fumes  of  this  will  kill  the  borers,  while  it  is  claimed  it  will  not  injure 
the  tree. 


THE  APPLE-TREE  CASE-BEARER. 

{Coleophora  malivorella  Riley.) 

Among  the  many  insect  enemies  that  attack  the  apple  tree  in  the 
United  States  are  to  be  mentioned  certain  species  that  are  known  as 
"case-bearers,"  from  the  fact  that  the  larvae  live  within  cases  or  cov- 
erings, which  they  construct  for  themselves  of  silk,  fragments  of 
leaves  and  bark,  intermingled  with  their  own  excrement.  One  of 
these  case-bearers  is  shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration  (Fig.  41). 


Fig.  41  —The  Apple  tree  Case-bearer  (Coleophora  m-Uvorella):  a, 
apple  twig  showing  case  of  larvse,  and  the  work  on  leaves;  b, 
larva;  c,  pupa;  d,  moth— 5,  c,  and  d  enlarged.    [After  Riley.] 

It  is  known  as  the  Apple-tree  Case-bearer,  and  has  been  known  to 
greatly  injure  this  tree  in  portions  of  the  eastern  and  middle  states. 
As  yet  it  has  not  been  reported  as  especially  injurious  in  this  or  ad- 
joining states,  although  it  is  known  to  occur  in  all  of  them,  where  it 
has  been  introduced  on  nursery  stock. 

This  case-bearing  moth  lays  its  eggs  upon  the  leaves  during  the 
month  of  July.  The  eggs  soon  hatch  and  the  larvae  feed  upon  the 
leaves  until  they  drop,  when  they  migrate  to  the  twigs  and  fasten  their 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FHUIT.  165 

cases  to  the  bark,  where  they  remain  during  winter.  The  following 
spring  they  feed  upon  the  leaves,  which  they  skeletonize,  and  when 
full-fed  abandon  them  and  again  repair  to  the  twigs,  where  the  case  is 
firmly  attached  a  second  time.  They  now  completely  reverse  their 
position  within  their  cases  and  transform  to  chrysalids.  About  three 
weeks  later  the  moths  issue  through  the  anal  opening. 

They  are  usually  kept  in  check  by  a  minute  Chalcid  which  is  para- 
sitic upon  them.  They  can  also  be  destroyed  with  the  arsenites  which 
are  so  frequently  recommended  for  killing  other  leaf-fectiing  insects. 


THE  RESPLENDENT  CASE  BEARER. 

{Aspidisca  splendor iferella  Clem.) 

A  second  species  of  these  Case-bearing  apple  tree  moths  is  herewith 
illustrated  in  its  different  stages  of  growth.  Like  the  preceding,  it 
has  also  made  its  appearance  within  the  state,  where  it  has  probably 
been  introduced  on  nursery  stock.  Although  an  exceedingly  small 
insect  for  a  moth,  it  makes  up  in  numbers,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  quotation  from  the  annual  report  of  the  U.  S.  Entomologist 
for  the  year  1879  :  *  *  "The  first  brood  was  quite  numerous, 
but  when  the  second  brood  began  to  make  their  cases,  about  the  end  of 
September,  the  apple  trees  were  a  sorry  sight  to  the  orchardist.  I 
have  frequently  counted  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  separate  mines  in 
a  single  leaf,  from  which  one  can  see  what  a  great  drain  this  insect 
must  have  caused  upon  the  vitality  of  the  plant.  In  early  October, 
when  permanent  hibernating  quarters  had  been  taken  up,  the  tree 
trunks  and  larger  branches  were  fairly  covered  with  the  clustering 
cases.  I  have  counted  forty-seven  on  a  spot  of  bark  not  larger  than 
a  dime.  In  the  crotches  of  the  limbs,  in  the  crevices  of  knots,  and 
in  similar  places,  they  were  particularly  abundant.  They  were  also 
to  be  found  upon  the  grass  and  sticks  at  the  base  of  the  tree." 

Before  transforming  to  the  chrysalis  stage,  this  larva,  like  that  of 
the  preceding  species,  reverses  its  position  inside  the  case.  There  are 
two  broods  annually  ;  and  it  also  attacks  the  pear  and  thorn-apples,  as 
well  as  the  wild  cherry.  The  larvae  of  the  first  brood  transform  al- 
most immediately  after  fastening  their  cases  permanently  ;  but  those  of 
the  second  brood  hibernate  and  transform  the  following  spring. 


166 


IIJSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


NATURAL,   ENEMIES   AND    REMEDIES. 

This  little  case-bearer  is  attacked  and  destroyed  by  ants  and  at  least 
two  distinct  hymenopterous  parasites,  the  one  a  Microgaster,  which  is 


Fig.  42.— The  Resplendent  Case  Rearer  (Aspidisca  splendoriferella): 
a,  lei\f  of  apple  showing  work;  6,  summer  larva;  c,  larva  incase 
traveling;  d,  cases  tied  up  for  winter;  e,  hibernating  larva  ;  /, 
pupa ;  g,  moth  ;  h,  parasite— all  enlarged  but  a  and  d.  [After 
Comstock.l 

figured  in  the  illustration  (Fig.  42  at  h),  and  the  other  a  Chaloid. 
These  evidently  keep  it  pretty  well  within  bounds,  but  occasionally  it 
may  become  sufficiently  numerous  to  cause  injury.  In  such  a  case  a 
spraying  of  the  trees  with  kerosene  emulsion  is  thought  to  be  an  ef- 
fectual remedy. 


APPLE  TKEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


167 


Fig.  43.— The   Yellow-necked  Apple-tree   Caterpillar   (Datana 


viinislra):  a,  maiure  larva  at  rest;  6,  moth;  c,  eggs;  d,  a  sin- 
gle egg  greatly  enlarged.    [After  Riley.] 


THE  YELLOW-NECKED  .^PPLE-TREE    CATERPILLAR. 

{Datana  ministra  Drury.) 
The  insect  shown 
herewith  in  figure 
43,  a,  larva,  6,  moth, 
is  commonly  found 
in  our  orchards  du- 
ring late  summer 
and  early  fall.  The 
caterpillars  are  ra- 
ther large,  more  or 
less  hairy,  dark- 
colored  with  light  stripes,  and  live  in  colonies.  When  about  to  molt 
they  gather  in  clusters  upon  the  larger  branches  or  the  trunk,  where 
they  remain  for  several  days,  clinging  together  by  means  of  webs 
spun  by  the  individual  caterpillars.  The  position  of  the  caterpillar 
in  the  cut  is  a  common  one  for  the  insect  when  disturbed. 

REMEDIES. 

This  insect  and  other  web-spinning 
caterpillars,  such  as  are  shown  in  figures 
55  and  56,  can  very  readily  be  controlled 
by  hand-picking  at  molting  times,  and 
when  first  hatched,  since  at  such  times 
they  are  massed  together.  All  the  spe- 
cies of  this  and  a  couple  other  genera 
are  very  apt  to  be   attacked  by  several 

Anny^vmm  showing  eggs.     [After  j^j^j^  ^^  g^^j^    gj^^  ^j^^^  ^^^^jj^  ^^^^  ^^^ 


Fig.  44.— Army-worm     Tachina 
larva,  pupa,  imago,  and  front  end  of 


insects  within  due  bounds, 
with  (Fig.  44). 


One  of  these  flesh  flies  is  shown  here- 


LEAF-FEEDING  CATERPILLARS. 

( Various  lands.) 
In  addition  to  the  several 
species  of  lepidopterous  lar- 
vae that  are  treated  of  at 
some  length  in  the  preceding 
pages  there  are  a  number  of 

others  that  are   always  more       ^o.^b.-naleBldotamaculala.    [Afler  Emerton.] 


1C8 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


or  less  numerous  upon  our  trees.  These,  while  possibly  less  injurious 
than  the  former,  when  working  together  do  a  vast  amount  of  injury. 
Sometimes  there  will  be  a  dozen  or  more  kinds  working  at  once  upon 
a  single  tree.     Some  of  them  are  figured  herewith  at  Figs.  45-56. 


Fig.  46.— White  Marked  Tussock  Moth:  a,  female  moth  with  eggs;  6,  young  larva ;  c,  female 
pupa  ;  d,  male  pupa ;  e,  male  moth.    [After  Riley.] 

Of  these  a  very  troublesome  one  in  our  state  appears  to  be  the  White 
Marked  Tussock  Moth,  which  is  shown  in  its  different  stages  in  fig- 
ures 46  and  47.     Although  the  female  moths  are  without  wings  it 


Fig.  47.— Mature  larva  of  White  Marked  Tussock  Moth.    [After  Riley.] 

has  managed  to  spread  over  the  greater  part  of  the  country.  Another 
of  these  wingless  moths,  the  Canker  Worm  {Anisopieryx  vernata)  is 
also  frequently  quite  a  pest  in  localities  away  from  the  guardianship 
of  the  feathered  tribe,  or  at  least  that  portion  of  it  that  feeds  upon 
these  creeping  vermin. 


6 

Fig.  48.— Canker  Worm.    [After 
Riley.] 


-Canker  Worm:  a,  male  moth; 
[After  Riley.] 


REMEDIES. 

All  of  these  leaf-feeders  are  readily  kept  under  control  by  resorting 
to  the  arsenical  sprays.  They  also  suffer  greatly  from  the  attacks  of 
many  predaceous  insects  and  dipterous  and  hymenopterous  parasites. 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


169 


Fig.  50.— Larva  of  the  American  Silk-worm  moth  (Antherea  polyphemus),  [After  Riley.  ] 


Fig.  52.— Bag-worm  :  a,  bag  cut  open  to  show  the  manner  in  which  the  female  works  from  her 
puparium  and  reaches  the  end  of  the  bag;  b,  female  extracted  from  her  case— enlarged.  [Af 
ter  Riley.] 


170 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


Fig.  53.— The  Apple-tree  Tent-caterpillar 

iClisiocampa   americana):  female  moth 
After  Riley.  1 


Fig.  54.— Eggs  of  Apple-tree  Tent- 
caterpillar,    [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  55.— Apple- tree  Tent-caterpillar;  a,  and  b,  ma- 
ture larvae;  c,  twig  with  eggs;  d,  cocoon.  [After 
Riley.] 


Fig.  56.— The  Fall  Web-worm  (Hyphantria  euvea);  a,  dark  larva  from  side;  b,  light  larva  from 
above;  c,  dark  larva  from  above;  d,  pupa,  central  view;  e,  pupa,  from  side;  /,  adult— all 
slightly  enlarged.    [After  Riley.] 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


171 


THE  LEAF  SKELETONIZER. 

{PempeUa  hammondi  Riley.) 

The  insect  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  57,  although  not  very  abundant 
within  the  state  as  yet,  has  been  observed  on  several  occasions  at 
widely  separated  points.  According 
to  Osborn  "  the  moths  appear  in  early 
summer,  and  the  caterpillars  are  de- 
structive from  early  summer  till  in 
autumn.  They  eat  only  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  leaf,  leaving  the  ribs  and 
the  under  epidermis,  though  portions  of 
the  pulpy  part  may  remain  and  thus 
turn  a  rusty  brown,  and  give  the  in- 
fested trees  a  burnt  appearance.  The 
leaf  is  covered  with  a  thin  web  and 
under  this  the  worm  is  slightly  pro- 
tected, and  here  will  be  found  a  mass 
of  black  excrement." 


Fin   57.— The  Leaf  Skeletonizer  (Pern- 
pdia  hamniondi).    [After  Riley.] 


REMEDY. 

The  arsenical  sprays  are  sufficient  to  destroy  the  insect. 

BUD  WORMS. 

In  most  localities  apple  trees  are  attacked  by  one  or  more  species  of 
very  small  caterpillars  that  are  known  as  "bud- worms"  because  of 
their  methods  of  attack.  These  insects  begin  their  work  very  early 
in  the  season  by  eating  into  the  unopened  buds.  Where  very  numer- 
ous it  is  evident  that  much  injury  can  result  to  the  trees.  Two  species 
of  these  insects  are  moderately  common,  viz.,  the  Eye-spotted  Bud- 
moth  [Tmetocera  oce^/ana),  and  the  "Apple-bud  Worm"  {Eccopsis 
malana).  Both  of  these  insects  belong  to  the  "leaf- rollers"  or  family 
Tortricidee  among  the  moths,  and  as  caterpillars  protect  themselves  in 
some  way  by  tying  the  new  or  dead  leaves  with  silk. 


EEMEDIES. 


Although  the  caterpillars  begin  their  work  quite  early  in  spring, 
they  continue  to  feed  until  after  the  fruit  has  formed  and  spraying 


172  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THfi 

has  begun.  They  can  usually  be  kept  within  bounds  by  the  applica- 
tion of  London  purple  or  Paris  green  when  used  against  the  Codling 
moth  and  leaf-feeding  caterpillars. 

"CUT-WORMS.' 

{Agrotis,  Mamestra,  etc.) 

The  cut-worms  are  moderately  large,  fleshy  worms  tapering 
gently  towards  both  ends.  When  full  grown  they  average  from 
one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and  one-half  inches  in  length,  are  dull 
yellowish-white  or  gray,  sometimes  inclining  to  greenish,  and  clouded 
and  striped  or  variously  marked  with  dull  black  or  smoky  brown ; 
sometimes,  though  rarely,  with  deep  black  and  pure  white.  One  of 
these  {Agrotis  dandestina)  is  figured  herewith  (Fig.  58),  the  illustra- 
tion showing  it  as  curled,  a  position  taken  by  them  when  disturbed. 
This  species  is  about  an  average  in  size — some  species  being  larger 
and  others  smaller  than  this. 

The  name  "cut-worm"  embraces  the  numerous  species  of  cater- 
pillars that  have  the  habit  of  concealing  themselves  during  day-time, 
either  beneath  some  object  lying  on  the  ground,  or  by  directly  bury- 


FiQ.  58.— The  W-marked  Cut- Worm  'tg.  59.— Agrotis  dandestina :  moth.    [After 

(Agrotis  dandestina):  larva.    [Af-  Riley.] 

ter  Riley.] 

ing  themselves  just  below  the  surface,  and  coming  forth  after  night  to 
feed  upon  various  kinds  of  vegetation.  Many  of  them  confine  their 
attacks  to  garden  products  and  other  low  succulent  plants,  but  others 
are  known  to  climb  up  the  trunks  of  trees,  grape  vines,  and  a  variety 
of  the  taller  kinds  of  vegetation  belonging  to  garden,  vineyard,  and 
orchard,  where  they  cause  great  havoc  by  eating  the  buds  and  tender 
leaves  in  early  spring.  Cut-worms  are  the  young  of  a  certain  group 
of  "Owlet"  moths,  which  are  also  nocturnal  in  their  habits.  Both 
the  larvae  and  mature  insects  are,  as  a  rule,  inconspicuous  in  color,  be- 


APPLE  TKEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


173 


ing  usually  dull  gray,  brown,  or  black,  or  have  these  colors  com- 
bined. 

There  are  upward  of  three  hundred  distinct  species  of  cut- worms 
found  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States;  and  perhaps  fully  one- 
third  that  number  occur  within  our  state. 

REMEDIES. 

The  very  best  remedy  that  has  thus  far  been  suggested  and  tried 
against  cut-worms  is  the  use  of  poisoned  grasses,  cabbage  leaves  or 
clover.  This  is  done  by  taking  these  substances  and  tying  them  into 
loose  bunches,  and  then  sprinkling  them  with  a  solution  of  Paris  green, 
or  London  purple,  say  a  tablespoonful  to  a  bucket  of  water.     Then  in 


Fig.  60.— Tachlna 
or  Flesh  Fly. 


Fig.  61.— Army  Worm  Tachina  fly: 
larva,  pupa,  imago,  and  front  end 
of  an  Army  Worm  showing  eggs. 
[After  Riley.] 


the  evening  scatter  these  poisoned  baits  over  the  field  between  the  rows 
of  beets,  cabbage,  etc.,  and  about  the  bases  of  trees.  The  worms  will 
.be  attracted  to  them,  eat,  and  die.  These  baits  should  be  renewed 
several  times,  at  intervals  of  two  to  four  days,  according  to  the  state 
of  the  weather  and  the  abundance  of  the  worms.  All  of  these  cut- 
worms are  attacked  by  several  kinds  of  parasites,  both  hymenopterous 
and  dipterous.  They  are  also  devoured  by  a  number  of  predaceous 
beetles,  while  birds  of  many  kinds  are  especially  fond  of  them.  One 
of  these  dipterous  parasites  is  shown  in  Fig.  60,  and  another  at  Fig. 
61. 

THE  LEAF  CKUMPLER. 
(Phycis  indigenella  Zeller.) 

This  is  an  insect  that  causes  much  more  injury  to  the  apple  and  al- 
lied trees  than  is  usually  admitted  by  tho.se  who  suffer  loss  from  its 
ravages.  Much  has  been  written  concerning  the  insect,  which  was  first 
described  in  this  country  by  Mr.  Walsh.     Later,  Professor  Riley  gave 


174 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


a  very  full  account  of  it  along  with  the  admirable  figures  of  the  insect 
and  its  work  (see  4th  Missouri  Report,  p.  38),  which  are  copied  here- 
with— Fig.  62.  The  following  condensed  account  of  the  insect,  taken 
chiefly  from  Riley's  report,  is  copied  from  Osborn.*    *' It  affects  apple, 

plum,  cherry,  pear,  crab,  and  other 
trees.  The  result  of  its  labors  is 
seen  during  fall  and  winter  in  the 
blackened,  crumpled  leaves  firmly 
fastened  to  the  branches.  These 
branches  will  be  found  to  contain 
one  or  more  long  tortuous  tubes,  and 
in  these  tubes  will  be  found  the  half- 
grown  worms,  which  become  very 
destructive  in  the  spring.  The  bunch 
of  leaves  containing  tubes  is  shown 
in  the  figure  at  6;  a  single  tube  or  case 
with  head  of  worm  protruding  at  a; 
the  head  of  the  worm  alone  at  c.  If 
these  branches  are  left  upon  the  tree 
^^i^T'^^Ttu^i^  till  the  following  spring,  the  worms, 
d,  moth.  [After  ^hich  are  then  naturally  quite  hungry 
from  their  winter  fast,  begin  upon  the  opening  Ibliage,  and  the  damage 
it  is  capable  of  doing  at  this  time  is  very  great.  The  tube  in  which 
it  spends  most  of  its  time  is  an  excellant  protection  against  birds  and^ 
other  natural  enemies,  while  the  crumpled  leaves  surrounding  it  serve 
to  deceive  the  orchardist  and  induce  him  not  to  trouble  it.  The  larva 
pupates  within  the  tube,  and  hence  remains  protected  on  the  tree.  The 
moth  issues,  and  the  eggs  for  the  coming  generations  are  laid  during 
the  summer.  The  eggs  hatch  shortly  after  being  laid,  and  the  worms 
begin  feeding,  and  also  the  construction  of  a  tube  for  their  shelter. 
This  is  enlarged  as  occasion  requires,  and  leaves  are  fastened  to  the 
outside,  so  that  by  winter  time  we  have  the  bunch  of  crumpled  dry 
leaves  characteristic  of  the  species." 

REMEDIES. 

"  It  is  obvious  that  the  insect  can  be  destroyed  by  collecting  the 
bunches  of  crumpled  leaves  during  the  winter  when  they  are  conspic- 
uous, but  probably  the  remedy  that  would  prove  most  satisfactory  now 

*  Transaclious  of  the  Iowa  State  Horticultural  Society,  1892,  p.  109. 


Fig.  62, 
Jarva  protruding 
leaves ;  c,  head  of  larva 
Riley.] 


APPLE  TKEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT, 


175 


would  be  the  use  of  Londou  purple  or  Paris  green  sprayed  early  in  the 
spring,  as  soon  as  tiie  worms  begin  their  work.  For  this  purpose  it 
might  be  well  to  spray  before  the  trees  blossom.  Where  spraying  is 
generally  practiced  for  the  Codling  moth  and  other  insect  pests  this  is 
not  at  all  likely  to  become  troublesome,  as  the  worms  will,  for  the 
most  part,  I  think,  be  killed  by  the  later  sprayings,  and  consequently 
few  adults  will  appear  to  deposit  eggs  in  summer." 

LEAF-ROLLING  CATERPILLARS. 

{TortricidcB.) 

Under  the  general  heading  of  "Leaf-Rolling  Caterpillars"  can  be 
grouped  quite  a  number  of  species  that  are  more  or  less  partial  to  the 
apple  tree.  The  principal  character  by  which  these  insects  are  to  be 
recognized  is  the  manner  in  which  the  larvae  protect  themselves  by 


•^y^^iH^ 


Fig.  63.— CaecEc/a  rusaceana:  im- 
ago, larva,  and  pupa.  [After 
Forbes.] 


Fig.  64.— Apple-leaf  Tytr  {Teras  cin- 
drella):  a,  larva;  b,  pupa;  c,  imago. 
[After  Riley.] 


Fig.  65.— The  Strawberry  Leaf-roller  (Phozopteria 
comptana):  a,  larva,  natural  size;  b,  mugnifled;  c, 
moth,  a  little  enlarj,'ed.  [EuKraved  after  cut  in 
Saunders'  "Insects  Injurious  to  Fruits."] 

constructing  tubes  of  the  leaves  by  rolling  or  drawing  them  together 
by  means  of  a  web.  Within  this  protection  the  larvse  feed  or  else  r^^- 
treat  during  day-time.    One  of  these  Leaf-rollers  {Cacoecia  rosaceana) 


176 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


is  shown  herewith  as  imago,  larva,  and  pupa.  It  is  known  as  the 
Oblique-banded  Leaf-roller.  A  second  species,  the  Apple-leaf  Tyer 
{Teras  cindrella)  is  also  figured  herewith  (Fig.  64).-  A  third  is  also 
shown  in  the  illustration  at  65.  In  addition  to  these  three  species  a 
number  of  others  are  known  to  attack  the  apple. 

REMEDIES. 

Since  these  insects  are  always  more  or  less  protected  within  their 
leaf  burrows  they  are  rather  more  difficult  to  handle  than  is  commonly 
the  case  with  leaf-feeding  species.  The  arsenical  sprays  will,  however, 
reach  many  of  the  caterpillars  and  keep  them  from  increasing  to  any 
great  extent.  They  are  also  quite  subject  to  the  attacks  of  hymenop- 
terous  parasites. 

GRASSHOPPERS  OR  LOCUSTS. 

(Aciididce.) 
Quite  prominent  among  the  insect  enemies  of  the  apple  tree  are  to 
be  mentioned  certain  kinds  of  locusts  or  grasshoppers.  Of  these 
there  are  at  least  a  dozen  species  that  at  times  are  especially  injurious 
to  the  tree  by  eating  off  the  leaves  and  even  the  bark  from  the  smaller 
branches  and  twigs.  Among  these  species  our  commonest  are  the  fol- 
lowing: The  Differential,  Two-lined,  American,  Large  Green,  Migra- 
tory, Lesser  Migratory,  Red-legged,  and  Devastating,  some  of  which 
are  figured  herewith.  (See  Figs.  66  to  71.) 


Fig.  67.— The  DiflFerential  Locust  (Melanoplus  differentialis):  female.    [After  Riley. J 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


177 


REMEDIES. 


These  grasshoppers  or  locusts  are  usually  kept  within  bounds  by 
their  insect  enemies,  but  when  the  weather  has  been  such  as  to  kill  off 
these  parasites  the  locusts  become  numerous.     When  this  is  the  case 


Fig.  68.— The  Red-legged  Locust 
(Melanoplusfemur-rubrum):  female. 
[After  Kiley.] 


Fig.  69.— Rocky  Mountain  Locust 
(Melanoplus  spretus):  male.  [After 
Riley.] 


Fig.  70.— if.  devastator. 


Fig.  71.— The  Two-lined  Locust  (Melanoplus  Mvit- 
tatus).    [After  Riley.] 


some  artificial  measures  must  be  resorted  to  if  we  wish  to  keep  the 
'hoppers  within  bounds  and  prevent  their  injury  to  crops.  Such 
remedies  have  been  numerous,  but  the  ones  that  have  proved  the  most 
efficient  are  plowing  under  deeply  the  eggs  before  they  should  have  had 
time  to  hatch,  and  the  capturing  of  the  unfledged  locusts  by  means  of 
"  hopper  dozers."  (See  Fig.  72.)  These  latter  are  shallow  sheet-iron 
pans  in  which  are  put  coal  tar  or  kerosene  oil  and  drawn  over  the  ground 


Fio.  72.— "Hopper  Dozer"  for  capturtug  and  destroying  grasshoppers  or  locusts.    [After  Riley.] 


178  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

by  horses  in  such  a  manner  that  the  'hoppers  will  hop  into  the  pan  and 
be  killed  by  coming  in  contact  with  the  oil.  This  latter  remedy  has 
been  described  very  fully  in  several  of  the  United  States  Entomologi- 
cal Commission  reports,  as  well  as  in  the  reports  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture. 

THE  IMBRICATED  SNOUT-BEETLE. 

[Epiccerus  imbrioatus  Say.) 

The  accompanying  figure  (Fig.  73)  represents  one  of  the  weevils  or 
snout-beetles  that  sometimes  attacks  various   fruit  trees,  the  twigs, 

fruit,  and  leaves  of  which  it  gnaws. 
Here  in  Nebraska  this  beetle  is  quite 
common;  and  at  times,  in  certain  lo- 
calities, has  been  known  to  do  consid- 
erable injury  to  these  trees  as  well  as 
to  a  variety  of  other  plants.     Among 

Fig.  73.— Imbricated  Suout-beetle  {Epicse-    those   plants    Upon  which  it  feeds,  the 
rus  imbncaUis):   dorsal  and   side  view.  .  \  .  iii.^ 

[After  Riley.]  following  have  been  mentioned  by  dif- 

ferent writers:  apple,  cherry,  gooseberry,  onions,  radishes,  cabbage, 
beans,  watermelons,  muskmelons,  cucumbers,  squashes,  beets,  and 
potatoes. 

Up  to  the  present  time  its  life-history  is  not  known,  nor  has  it  been 
very  regular  in  its  arrival  at  all  points  within  its  range  each  year. 
It  is  one  of  a  few  of  our  insect  enemies  that  comes  and  goes  by  starts 
— sometimes  appearing  in  great  numbers  several  years  in  succession, 
and  then  again  being  almost  entirely  absent  for  one  or  more  years — a 
regular  Bohemian,  as  it  were. 


When  numerous,  an  application  of  Paris  green  or  London  purple 
will  eiFectually  check  them,  if  used  as  for  the  Colorado  potato  beetle. 

THE  ROSE  CHAFER. 

[Macrodaciylus  subspinosus  Fabr.) 

A  very  prominent  injurious  insect  in  which  the  liortieulturists  are 
very  much  interested  is  the  one  shown  in  Figs.  74  and  75,  and  which 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FEUIT. 


179 


is   known   as    the    Rose 
Beetle   or   Rose  Chafer, 
from  the  fact  that  it  ap- 
pears to  be  especially  fond 
of  the  various  kinds  of 
roses,  both  wild  and  cul- 
tivated.    It  is  also  very 
fond  of  most  of  our  fruit 
trees  and  shrubs.    It  also 
is  a  grape  pest.    Prof.  C. 
y.    Riley,   Entomologist    \\ 
of  the  United  States,  pub-    'R 
lished  a  very  complete  ar-   w 
tide   on   the    history   of  '  <^ 

this    insect    in    which     be  Fig.  74.— The  Rose  Beetle  (3/acrodac/2/Zus  SM&spMios?ts):o,  fe- 

'  male  beetle;  b,  c,  d,  e,  f,  aud  g,  outline  figures  showing 

treated    the    subject    from      characters  of  the  sexes,  etc.— all  enlarged.     [After  Kiley.] 

all  standpoints.*  He  says  it  is  one  of  the  insects  most  frequently 
treated  in  horticultural  literature ;  that  it  is  native  to  America ;  and 
that  it  has  become  injurious  to  cultivated  plants  within  the  present 
century.  He  also  describes  the  larva  and  pupa,  aud  shows  how  the 
former  is  also  very  injurious  by  feeding  upon  the  roots  of  various 
grasses,  herbs,  and  perhaps  trees  too. 

NATUEAL    HISTORY. 

The  natural  history  of 
this  insect  can  be  briefly 
stated  as  follows:  "Ac- 
cording to  Harris  the  fe- 
rf/j  male  beetle  lays  her  eggs 
*^^*«'^-^/.  to  the  number  of  about 
thirty,  about  the  middle 
of  July,  at  a  depth  of 
from  one  to  two  inches 
beneath  the  surface  of  the 
ground.      He    does    not 

Fig.  75.-The  Rose  Beetle  (il/acrodarfy^MS  swftspmosMs) :  o,  full-  State  the  faVOritC  place  for 

oviposition,    but    in    our 
experience  the  larvse  are 


jrown  larva,  side  view;  b,  head  of  larva,  from  vifW ; 
left  mandible  or  jaw  of  larva  from  below;  /,  pupa,  below- 
all  mHgnitied.    [After  Riley.] 


•  Insect  Life,  Apr.,  1890,  pp.  295-302, 


180  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

especially  abundant  in  low,  open  meadow  land  or  in  cultivated  fields, 
particularly  where  the  soil  is  light  and  sandy.  Harris  states  that  the 
eggs  hatch  in  about  twenty  days,  and  while  the  period  will  vary  with  the 
temperature,  the  larvae  is  found  fully  grown  during  the  autumn  months. 
With  the  approach  of  cold  weather  it  works  deeper  into  the  ground,  but 
in  the  spring  will  frequently  be  found  near  the  surface  or  under  stones 
and  other  similar  objects,  where  it  forms  a  sort  of  cell  in  which  to 
pupate.  In  confinement  the  pupa  state  has  lasted  from  two  to  four 
weeks.  The  perfect  beetle  issues  in  the  New  England  states  about 
the  second  week  of  June,  while  in  the  latitude  of  Washington  it 
is  seen  about  two  weeks  earlier.  It  appears  suddenly  in  great  num- 
bers, as  has  often  been  observed  and  commented  upon,  but  this  is 
in  conformity  with  the  habits  of  other  Lamellicorn  beetles,  e.  g.,  our 
common  May-beetles  {Lachnosterna),  and  this  habit  is  still  more 
marked  in  certain  species  of  Hoplia  and  Serica.  It  remains  active 
a  little  over  a  month,  and  then  soon  disappears.  The  species  produces, 
therefore,  but  one  annual  generation,  the  time  of  the  appearing  of  the 
beetle,  in  greatest  abundance,  being  coincident  with  the  flowering  of 
the  grapevine."     [Riley,  1.  c] 

DISTRIBUTION. 

This  beetle  occurs  from  the  New  England  states  westward  to  the 
eastern  foot  hills  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  is  found  from  the  In- 
dian Territory  northward  to  the  British  possessions.  Its  greatest 
numbers,  however,  are  to  be  found  near  the  Atlantic  coast  in  Mary- 
land, Delaware,  and  New  Jersey,  where  horticulture  and  farming  have 
been  carried  on  for  many  more  years  than  farther  to  the  westward. 
It  is  also  spreading  to  some  extent  into  new  regions. 

ENEMIES  AND   REMEDIES. 

Unless  they  appear  in  too  great  numbers  the  beetles  can  be  de- 
stroyed to  some  extent  by  the  use  of  London  purple  and  Paris  green. 
They  can  also  be  gathered  by  beating  the  plants  upon  which  they 
have  congre^ted  over  an  inverted  umbrella,  and  afterwards  destroyed. 
The  larvse  are  more  diflftcult  to  reach,  but  over  small  areas  can  be 
destroyed  by  drenching  the  surface  with  the  kerosene  emulsion  and 
allowing  it  to  soak  in.  Both  the  imago  and  the  larva  are  eagerly 
devoured  by  a  number  of  birds;  and  domestic  fowls  are  remarkably 
expert  in  the  art  of  getting  away  with  the  beetles.     Reptiles  and  some 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


181 


of  the  smaller  mammals  are  also  very  fond  o'f  them,  while  many  a 
one  is  killed  by  Carabid  beetles. 


THE  DOMINICAN  CASE-BEARER. 

{Coscinoptera  dominicana  Fabr.) 

While  this  insect,  which  is  figured  below,  is  not  considered  one  of 
our  injurious  fruit  pests,  it  is  nevertheless  known  to  feed  upon  both 
the  apple  and  plum  in  addition  to  a  number  of  our  other  trees 
and  shrubs.  It  is,  however,  included  here  to  show  the  readers  that 
there  are  other  case-bearers  among  insects  besides  those  belonging  to 
the  Lepidoptera.  This  beetle,  for  such  it  is,  belongs  to  the  extensive 
family  of  leaf-beetles  known  to  the  entomologist  as  Chrysomelidae. 
The  case  which  adorns  the  back  of  the  larva  is  composed  of  mud 
which  it  attaches  from  time  to  time  to  the  open  or  lower  edge  as  the 
growth  of  its  owner  requires  it.  This  case  is  adorned  with  longitu- 
dinal ridges,  as  shown  in  the  illustration  b. 

The  beetle  is  plain  black,  and  covered  with  a  thin  coating  of  short 
gray  hairs,  which  give  it  a  sort  of  a  grizzled  appearance.  The  eggs 
are  covered  with  a  coating  of  excrementitious  matter  that  is  worked 
into  the  form  of  cones  or  seed-pods  of  some  evergreen,  and  are  ele- 
vated upon  slender  thread-like 
stalks  as  shown  at  e  and  i. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of 
these  case-bearing  beetles  to  be 
met  with  in  any  part  of  our 
country,  and  some  of  them  are 
even  quite  injurious  to  the  veg- 
etation upon  which  they  feed. 
When  remedies  are  required 
against  them,  they  can  be  de- 
stroyed by  jarring  them  off  and 
collecting  them  in  an  inverted  umbrella,  or  by  spraying  the  foliage 
with  London  purple  or  Paris  green  in  the  proportion  so  often  recom- 
mended. 


Fig.  76.— The  Dominican  Case-bcarer  (Coscinop- 
tera dumiviciina):  a,  larva  removed  from  case; 
b,  samo,  Will)  casi-;  c,  beetle  showing  punctures; 
d,  do,,  natural  size  ;  e,  egg  magnified  ;  i,  cluster 
of  same,  natural  size  ;  /,  g,  h,j,k,  I,  figures  show- 
ing anatomy  of  parts.    [Alter  Riley.] 


182 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


"MAY  BEETLES." 

(^Lachnosterna.) 

The  common  May-beetles,  Lachnosterna  fusca  and  allies,  are  among 

the  most  troublesome  of  all  insect  pests  with  which  the  tree-grower 

has  to  deal.     Here  in  the  west  these  large  and  voracious  insects  are 

/         -v  equally  as  numerous  upon 

i^^M^I  ^^^^^^^         the  prairies  as  they  are  in 

^MHf  JKB^^^KM^      ^^^  vicinity  of  timber.    In 

i^HM^t.  "li^^^^^^V^     ^^^^^  ^^^^^  appear  to  be  even 

i/^HB  \  ^^—     \.K,,^^*^^^   more  plentiful  in  these  new 

L  ^tS^  ^  Mmw    '  regions  than  in  older  ones, 

because  the  tree  growths  in 
these  newly  cultivated  dis- 
tricts are  so  scant  that  a 
moderate  number  of  the 
beetles  will  very  quickly 
entirely  strip  off  the  leaves, 
while  they  would  make  but 
little  show  if  working  on 
the  foliage  of  many  trees 
and  those  of  moderate  or  large  size.  All  of  these  May-beetles  are 
nocturnal  in  their  habits  and  feed  while  we  are  asleep;  and  during 
day-time  lie  hidden  away  in  the  ground,  where  they  burrow  during 
early  morning,  only  to  come  forth  again  the  following  evening  to  con- 
tinue their  destruction  among  our  fruit,  shade,  and  forest  trees. 

These  different  species  of  May  and  June  beetles  are  usually  about 
the  size  of  the  one  shown  in  the  accompanying  figure  (77),  though 
some  are  larger  and  others  smaller.  They  are  mahogany-brown  or 
yellowish-brown  in  color,  and  either  smooth  or  slightly  roughened  ; 
and  some  of  them  have  a  covering  of  short  hairs,  among  which  are 
several  longitudinal  rows  of  longer  ones  upon  the  elytra,  while  a  few 
are  more  or  less  pruinose— i.  e.,  covered  with  a  bluish-white  powdery- 
like  substance  similar  to  that  covering  ripe  or  nearly  ripe  plums. 
So  common  and  destructive  are  these  insects  {fusca  and  allied  forms) 


YiQ.  77  —The  common  May  beetle  (Lachnosterna  fv sea) 
the  pupa  ;  2,  the  larva  or  White  grub  in  ita  ground  cell , 
3  and  4,  the  beetle,  side  and  dorsal  view.   [After  Riley.] 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  183 

throughout  the  country  that,  next  to  the  Colorado  Potato-beetle, 
Chinch-bug,  Codling-moth,  Rocky  Mountain  Locust,  and  a  few  others 
of  our  most  injurious  insects,  they  have  received  more  attention  than 
most  of  our  insect  pests. 

LIFE-HISTORY. 

The  life-history  of  these  beetles,  although  differing  slightly  among 
themselves,  may  be  summed  up  practically  as  follows :  Shortly  after 
pairing,  the  female  beetles  creep  into  the  earth,  especially  wherever  the 
soil  is  rough  and  loose  and  more  or  less  covered  by  vegetation,  and 
after  depositing  their  eggs  to  the  number  of  forty  or  fifty,  die.  These 
eggs  hatch  in  from  three  to  five  weeks,  and  produce  grubs  that  feed 
upon  the  roots  of  various  plants  and  grow  slowly  for  a  little  upwards 
of  two  years,  when  they  change  to  the  pupa  stage  within  cells  in  the 
ground  which  they  construct  for  themselves.  Within  these  cells  the 
beetles  remain  during  the  remainder  of  the  summer,  fall,  and  winter 
into  the  following  spring,  when  they  crawl  to  the  surface  and  are  ready 
to  take  active  part  in  the  destruction  of  all  kinds  of  tree  foliage  and 
to  prepare  for  the  propagation  of  future  generations. 

REMEDIES. 

On  account  of  their  underground  life  the  larvse  or  grubs  of  the 
May  beetle  are  very  difficult  to  reach  and  destroy.  They  are  not 
without  their  natural  enemies, both 
vertebrate  and  invertebrate,  and  /I 
by  far  the  greater  majority  of^^f 
them  are  thus  destroyed  between 
the  time  of  hatching  from  the  eggs 
and  issuing  as  beetles.     A  large  .    ^    v,  t,  ^ ,,    ^ 

°  "    Fig.  78.— Wiute  Grub  Para'ite  :  a,  imago  ;  6,  head 

number  of  our  birds  are  especially     of  larva;  c  larva;  d,  cocoon.    [After  Riley.l 

fond  of  the  fat  grubs,  and  can  be  seen  industriously  following  the  plow 
as  it  turns  them  up  with  the  fresh  loose  soil.  All  kinds  of  domestic 
fowls  eat  them  greedily,  while  hogs  industriously  search  for  them  by 
rooting  over  the  ground  where  they  occur  in  abundance.  Mice,  shrews, 
moles,  ground  squirrels,  and  skunks  are  also  remarkably  fond  of  both 
the  grubs  and  beetles.  Among  their  insect  enemies  the  wasp  known 
as  Tiphia  inornata  Say,  is  the  greatest.     This  insect  is  shown  in  its 


184 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


several  stages  at  Fig.  78.  The  larva  of  this  black  or 
bluish-black  wasp  attacks  and  destroys  the  grubs,  af- 
ter which  it  spins  a  pale  brown  elongate  silken  cocoon 
of  the  kind  so  frequently  dug  up  when  working  the 
ground,  and  transforms  to  the  pupa  state,  and  later  to 
the  perfect  fly.  Last  spring,  and  in  fact  for  several 
successive  years,  here  in  the  city  of  Lincoln  these 
May-beetles  were  attracted  to  the  electric  lights  by 
the  thousands,  and  also  along  with  these,  two  large 
black  ground  beetles,  Calosoma  externum  and  C.  lu- 
gubre,  in  moderate  numbers.  These  latter  beetles 
would  pounce  upon  a  May-beetle  as  it  lay  floundering 
upon  the  walk  under  the  lights,  as  a  cat  would  upon 
a  mouse,  and  very  quickly  kill  and  partly  devour  it. 

The  grubs  are  frequently  attacked  and  destroyed  by 
a  peculiar  whitish  fungus.  This  fungus  issues  near 
the  head  of  the  grubs  and  occasionally  attains  the 
length  of  three  or  four  inches,  when  it  has  near  the 
appearance  of  the  accompanying  illustration  (Fig.  79). 
Another  fungus  has  been  experimented  with  during 
the  past  few  years  with  a  view  to  destroying  the  grubs, 
but  without  success,  I  am  sorry  to  say. 

Many  of  the  beetles  can  be  destroyed  by  jarring 
the  trees  over  sheets  and  gathering  them  as  they  fall, 
after  which  they  can  be  drowned  in  boiling  water  or 
thrown  into  the  fire  and  burnt.  Other  methods  can 
be  devised  by  those  who  have  the  insects  to  fight, — 
circumstances,  of  course,  directing  these  forays  against 
the  enemy.  In  some  instances  the  beetles  can  also  be 
destroyed  by  spraying  the  foliage  of  trees  with  either 


Pig.  79.— White  Grub  _         ,  i  -r»      • 

Fungus.  [Aft.  Riley]  London  purple  or  Faris  green. 


APPLE-TREE  FLEA-BEETLE. 

{Crraptodera  foliacea  Liec.) 

This  insect,  which  is  represented  in  Fig.  81,  magnified,  can  be 
readily  recognized  from  the  following  description:  In  size  it  is  some- 
what variable,  ranging  from  four  to  five  millimeters  in  length;  it  is 
oval  in  its  outline,  and  of  a  highly  polished  brassy-green  color.    An- 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


185 


tennse  dull  brownish  black  beyond  the  three  basal  joints,  which  are 
somewhat  obscured  by  a  coating  of  short  fine  hairs  or  gray  pubescence. 
The  feet  are  dull  brownish,  or  reddish  brown,  and,  with  the  legs  and 
under  parts  generally,  are  also  somewhat  pubescent. 


Fig.  80.— The  Apple-tree  Flea-beetle  {Orapto-  Fig.  81.— Apple-tree  Flea-beetle— greatly  en- 

derafoliacea),  showing  beetle  natural  size,  larged.    [After  Popenoe,  drawing  by  C.  L. 

and    mode  of    attack.    [After    Popenoe,  Marlatt.] 
drawing  by  C.  L.  Marlatt] 

We  are  indebted  to  Prof.  E.  A.  Popenoe  for  a  pretty  full  life  his- 
tory of  this  beetle,*  and  in  treating  of  it  here  I  will  quote  his  lan- 
guage largely. 

"  Throughout  its  range,  so  far  as  noted,  it  usually  occurs  upon 
plants  of  the  evening  primrose  family  {Onangracece),  being  especially 
partial  to  the  silky  gaurus  {Oaura  parviflora),  and  otiiers,  the  leaves 
of  which  are  often  riddled  by  it.     *     *     * 

"For  several  years  past  the  beetle  in  question  has  attracted  atten- 
tention  on  the  college  grounds  (at  Manhattan,  Kan.)  by  its  attacks 
during  May  and  June  upon  the  apple  tree,  the  leaves  being  the  por- 
tions injured.  In  orchard  trees  the  lower  branches  only,  near  the 
ground,  have  suffered,  and  these  but  slightly.  The  greatest  injury 
has  been  done  in  the  nursery,  where  the  beetle  has  often  completely 
defoliated  the  spring-set  root-grafts,  and  the  yearling  trees,  and  has 
seriously  injured  even  two-year-old  trees.    The  insects  are  most  active 

•  Bulletin  No.  3  of  the  Experimental  Station  of  Kansas  Agricultural  College,  pp.  37-39. 


lob  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 

in  bright,  warm  weather,  and  are  then  attracted  to  the  trees  in  great 
abundance,  where  they  feed  upon  the  parenchyma  [green  pulp  between 
the  veins]  of  the  leaf  (Fig.  80),  avoiding  the  veins  and  midrib,  these 
being  sometimes  all  that  remains  after  a  few  days'  presence  of  the 
beetle.  It  is  on  the  young  shoots  of  the  root-grafts  that  their  work 
is  the  most  injurious.  In  these  they  keep  the  new  growth  cut  so 
close  that  the  graft  sometimes  fails  to  recover.  While  the  injury  to 
yearlings  is  considerable,  yet  the  trees,  though  denuded,  usually  re- 
co  ver  and  throw  out  new  leaves  after  the  season  of  attack  is  past." 

EEMEDIES. 

While  this  beetle  does  not  appear  to  be  quite  as  susceptible  to  the 
effects  of  poisons  as  are  some  of  the  other  insect  enemies  of  the  apple, 
it  can  very  readily  be  destroyed  by  using  the  arsenites,  London  pur- 
ple or  Paris  green,  in  the  proportions  of  one  pound  of  the  poison  to 
150  gallons  of  water. 


Fig.  82.—Thrips 
tritici. 


THE  APPLE  THRIPS. 

{Thrips  tritici  Fitch.) 

The  insect  which  is  shown  herewith  in  Fig.  82  is 
a  very  minute  and  slender  creature  of  a  light  straw-yel- 
low color  that  sometimes  gathers  upon  apple  blossoms  in 
large  numbers  which  it  easily  enters  even  before  they 
have  opened.  When  such  is  the  case  they  often  do  con- 
siderable injury  to  the  blossoms  by  gnawing  the  delicate 
parts  and  causing  them  to  dry  up  and  fall  without  pro- 
ducing fruit. 

One  or  more  additional  species  of  thrips  have  also 
been  found  to  frequent  apple  blossoms  in  a  similar  man- 
ner. 


REMEDY. 


As  yet  no  remedy  has  been  suggested  by  which  to  prevent  these 
injuries  by  thrips. 


i 


APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  187 

THE  INDIAN  CETONIA. 

(Euphoria  inda  Linn.) 

This  beetle  which  is  figured  herewith  is  a  very  common  insect  in  all 

parts  of  the  country  to  the  eastward  of  the  great  plains. 

It  is  one  of  our  earliest  spring  visitors,  and  may  often  be 

seen  flying  about  in  sheltered  localities  before  the  snow  has 

entirely  disappeared  from  the  more  open   places.     It  is 

very  frequently  seen  here  in  Nebraska  during  early  April, 

as  it  skims  over  the  surface  a  foot  or  two  above  the  earth, 

iiidiarT  cl  producing  a  buzzing  noise  very  similar  to  that  produced  by 

phoriainda).  a  bumble-bec.     When  flying,  this  and  other  members  of 

the  sub-family,  instead  of  lifting  the  elytra,  the  wings  are  merely  thrust 

out  at  the  sides. 

All  of  the  Cetoniidoe  are  lovers  of  flowers,  and  also  of  the  sweet 
juices  of  plants  of  various  kinds.  This  beetle  is,  therefore,  quite  in- 
jurious to  different  kinds  of  ripe  fruit  upon  which  it  gathers  in  large 
numbers,  often  entirely  devouring  apples,  peaches,  and  pears.  It  is 
also  a  corn  insect  here  in  the  west,  feeding  upon  the  ends  of  the  ears 
while  still  soft.  I  have  also  taken  many  of  the  beetles  upon  the 
trunks  of  apple  and  other  fruit  trees,  where  they  had  gathered  about 
"bleeding"  wounds  produced  by  wind-breaks  or  pruning.  Just 
what  the  larval  habits  of  this  beetle  are  I  do  not  know;  but  I  have 
taken  the  beetle  on  several  occasions  from  ants'  nests  in  company  with 
Eu.  hirtipes' ^i^hich  I  have  never  taken  anywhere  else. 

REMEDY. 

The  beetle  should  be  gathered  and  destroyed  at  all  times  and  places ; 
for  should  its  larval  habits  be  such  as  to  permit  of  its  increase  in  great 
numbers  it  can  become  a  dangerous  pest. 


THE  CODLING  MOTH. 

(Carpocapsa  pomonella  Linn.) 

All  fruit  growers,  and  especially  those  who  have  apple  orchards, 
know  the  insect  only  too  well  to  make  it  necessary  for  me  to  describe 


188 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THfi 


Fig.  84.— The  Codlin;  Moih  ( Carpocapsa  pomon- 


it  here.  In  Nebraska  the  insect  is  double  brooded — i.  e.,  there  are 
two  broods  annually,  the  first  being  that  of  early  spring,  resulting 

from  the  eggs  deposited  in  the 
forming  fruit  during  May  and 
very  early  June.  These  first 
worms  are  only  about  four  weeks 
in  attaining  their  growth  after  the 
eggs  have  hatched.  When  full- 
grown  they  gnaw  to  the  surface, 
crawl  out,  and  seek  some  refuge 
upon  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  or 
other  favorable  position,  in  which 
to  spin  their  slight  cocoon,  in 
which  to  transform.  In  about 
two  weeks  more  these  first  pupae 
^  of  the  year  have  issued  as  moths, 
tn^^^^T^^^Z^^"^  pup'ir.!  a°d  soon  commence  the  deposition 
Sah:4.rSnific^d^liet^ofhfad"c?^!4;;;^f  of  eggs  for  the  second  generation. 

pupa  cocoon.    [After  Kiley.]  ^^^^    ^^^^^^   deposits    about   fifty 

eggs  during  her  egg-laying  season,  which  usually  is  extended  over  a 
period  of  a  week  or  ten  days.  The  eggs  for  this  second  generation 
are  placed  indiscriminately  over  different  parts  of  the  fruit,  although 
the  calyx  end  oiFers  the  best  location,  and  receives  by  far  the  greater 
per  cent  of  them.  These  last  larvae  usually  hibernate  as  such,  espe- 
cially northward — some  in  the  orchard,  others  in  storerooms,  barns, 
cellars,  and  barrels,  where  they  have  been  carried  in  the  fruit  from 
the  orchards,  this  being  the  chief  manner  in  which  the  insect  has  be- 
come so  widely  disseminated  over  the  civilized  world. 

Although  confined  principally  to  the  apple,  the  Codling  moth  also 
breeds  in  a  variety  of  other  fruits — peaches,  apricots,  plums,  and  allied 
stone  fruits  sometimes  suifering  greatly  from  its  attacks;  but  its  prin- 
cipal haunts,  outside  of  the  apple,  are  among  the  seeded  fruits  of  the 
Rosaceoe,  as  the  pear,  quince,  hawthorn,  and  perhaps  the  seed  buds  of 


REMEDIES. 


On  account  of  the  miscellaneous  food  habits  of  the  Codling  moth, 
there  is  no  single  remedy  that  will  suffice  to  keep  in  check  and  prevent 


APPLE  TEEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


189 


its  injuries  to  our  apple  crop.  We  must,  therefore,  adapt  our  reme- 
dies to  the  habits  of  the  insect  by  meeting  it  on  all  sides,  and  at  dif- 
ferent seasons  of  the  year.  Tiie  best  remedy  now  known,  and  the  only 
one  by  which  the  first  brood  is  killed  and  a  large  per  cent  of  the  fruit 
saved  from  their  ravages,  is  the  use  of  one  or  the  other  of  the  arseni- 
cal sprays,  composed  of  London  purple  or  Paris  green,  with  water. 
These  are  to  be  applied  just  after  the  fruit  has  "set"  and  before  it  has 
become  heavy  enough  to  droop  or  the  calyx  end  to  turn  downward. 
One  or  two  thorough  sprayings  at  this  time  will,  it  has  been  proved, 
save  at  least  seventy  per  cent  of  the  loss  otherwise  experienced.  The 
ratio  of  these  poisons  best  adapted  for  the  purpose  has  not  been  defi- 
nitely ascertained,  since  this  varies  with  conditions  of  climate,  latitude, 
etc.  About  four  ounces  of  the  Paris  green  and  three  of  the  London 
purple  to  the  barrel  of  water  will  probably  be  sufficiently  strong  to 
kill  the  worms  and  at  the  same  time  not  injure  or  kill  the  foliage  dur- 
ing ordinary  weather  at  this  time  of  year. 

Such  other  remedies  as  the  gathering  of  "wind  falls,"  and  destroy- 
ing them,  or  turning  liogs  and  sheep  into  the  orchard  to  either  feed 
upon  or  trample  upon  the  creeping  worms ;  the  jarring  or  picking  of 
infested  fruit  from  the  trees;  the  gathering  and  destruction  of  the 
cocoons  containing  larvae  and  chrysalids  from  the  trunks  and  branches 
of  trees;  the  killing  of  moths  in  various  ways;  and  the  trapping  of 
the  larvse  by  using  bandages,  shingles,  etc.;  all  of  these  remedies  with 
which  every  fruit  grower  is  more  or  less 
familiar,  through  personal  experience, 
do  of  course  come  in  play  as  the  oppor- 
tunities permit  during  the  year,  and 
combined,  do  much  good. 

Like  all  other  injurious  insects,  the 
Codling  moth  is  preyed  upon  by  cer- 
tain of  the  birds,  and  also  has  certain 
true  parasites  that  destroy  many  of  the 
worms,  which  otherwise  would  be  per- 
mitted to  mature.  Quite  a  number  ot 
the  predaceous  beetles  are  also  known 
to  feed  upon  the  worms  while  the  latter 
are  creeping  about  preparatory  to  spinning  in,  as  well  as  afterward. 


Fig.  85.— The  Banded-legged  Pimpla 
{Pimpla  annuZipcs)— enlarged.  [After 
Kiley.] 


190 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OE  THE 


But  do  not  let  us  stop  here, 
even  if  we  know  that  a 
dozen  or  more  species  of 
friendly  insects  are  aiding 
(o  destroy  this  moth.  Let 
us  lend  a  hand  by  doing  our 
"share  of  destruction." 

Two  of  the  hymenojite- 
rous  parasites  that  attack 
and  kill  the  larva  of  the 
Codling  moth  are  shown 
herewith.  They  are  known 
as  the  Ring-legged  or 
Banded-legged  Pimpla  (Fig. 
85),  and  the  Delicate  Long- 
sting  [Macrocentrus  delicat- 
ulus),  Fig.  86.  The  larvje 
of  several  of  the  Lampyridse 
or  Fire-flies  are  known  also 

FIG.  86.-The  Delicate  LonJ-sUMg  (Macrocentrus  delicatu^^  ^id  in  this  gOod  WOrk. 
ius)— enlarged.    [Alter  Kiley.] 

THE  APPLE  GOUGER  OR  CURCULIO. 

{Anthonomus  quadrigibbus  Say.) 

Until  quite  recently  the  insect  known  as  the  four-humped  Curculio, 
or  Gouger,  has  been  absent  from  the  state,  as  an  injurious  species  at 
least.  During  the  past  three  or  four  years,  however,  it  has  been  quite 
a  pest  in  the  older  orchards  of 
the  southeastern  part.  In  writ- 
ing of  this  insect  Professor  Os- 
born  says,  "Apples  are  often 
very  much  stunted  in  growth 
and  distorted  in  form  by  the 

attacks    of    this     insect,    and    it  j-^q    sT.-A.  Apple  infested  by  Apple  Curculio;  b, 

may  be  considered  one  of  the  flfte'roi^eue'r""^  "'"'"' ''  '^''  "'""''  '"'''°''' 
serious  apple  pests.  The  beetle  is  recognized  by  the  four  sharp  humps 
on  the  back  portion  of  the  wing-covers  (see  Fig.  89).  The  beak  is 
long  and  the  body  enlarges  toward  the  posterior  end." 


APPLE  TKEE  AND  ITS  FRUIT. 


191 


The  method  of  attack  and  injury  is  shown  in  the  above  illustration 
at  Fig.  87.     The  insect  punctures  the  fruit  with  its  beak  both  in  feed- 


FiQ.  8S.—AnthoTiomus  quadrigibbus:  h,  larva; 
a,  pupa.    [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  89.  —  Aiithonomus  quadrigibbus  : 
beetle,  a,  natural  size;  6,  side  view;  c, 
top  view.    [Afier  Riley.] 


iug  and  when  laying  its  eggs.  When  the  apples  thus  injured  do  not 
fall  from  the  tree  they  become  greatly  distorted  as  seen  in  the  picture; 
but  most  of  the  fruit  injured  drops. 

EEMEDY. 

Spray  with  the  arsenites  as  directed  for  Codling  moth  and  leaf-feed- 
ing caterpillars  during  time  of  egg-laying. 


THE  PLUM  CURCULIO. 

(Conotrachelus  nenuphar  Herbst.) 
insect    is  essentially  a 


While  this 
plum,  peach,  and  cherry  enemy,  it 
also  frequently  confers  its  attention 
to  the  apple.  When  this  is  the 
case  it  is  the  cause  of  some  injury,  as 
can  be  seen  \)y  reference  to  the  illustra- 
tion as  presented  in  Fig.  91.  This  il- 
lustration shows  simply  the  punctures 
made  by  the  insect  while  feeding.  Its 
egg  punctures  are  always  further  indi- 
cated by  the  crescent  mark  which  partly 
surrounds  them. 


Fig.  90. — Plum  curculio;  a,  larva;  b, 
pupa ;  c,  beetle  ;  d,  young  plum  show- 
ing puncture  and  crescent.  [After 
Riley.] 


192 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


THE  PLUM  GOUGER. 

[Coccotorus primicida  Walsh.) 
In  addition  to  the  two  insects  named  above  as  apple  enemies,  the 
Plum  Gouger,  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  92,  has  also  been  known  to 
attack  apples  in  a  similar  manner  with  the  above.  Whether  or  no  it 
ever  breeds  here  I  have  not  learned;  but,  judging  from  its  habit  oi 
entering  the  pit  of  the  plum  as  a  larva,  I  imagine  that  it  does  not. 


Fig.  91.— Apples  showing  Plum  Curcullo  punctures— natural  size.    [Prom  Insect  Life  1 

Fig.  93  represents  still  another  species  of  these  gougers  that  may  in 
future  be  found  to  attack  the  apple,  viz.,  the  Sand-cherry  Gouger. 


Fig.  92.— Plum  Gouger.    [Insect  Life.]  Fig.  93.— Sand-cherry 

Gouger.  [Insect  Life.] 

EEMEDY. 

The  remedy  suggested  for  the  Apple  Gouger  will  apply  equally 
well  for  fighting  both  the  curculio  and  gouger  of  the  plum  when  they 
are  found  attacking  the  apple. 


[  "v^  APPLE  TREE  AND  ITS  FRUIT.  193 

THE  APPLE-MAGGOT. 

{Trypeta  pomonella  Walsh.) 

Possibly  one  of  the  most  troublesome  apple  pests  that  the  orehardist 
has  to  deal  with  is  the  one  known  as  the  Apple  Maggot.  Although 
not  reported  from  the  state  thus  far,  it  can  be  but  a  matter  of  time 
when  it  will  be  with  us  and  require  our  attention.  It  is  now  pretty 
well  distributed  over  the  states  further  east  and  south,  and  could  very 
readily  be  introduced  in  shipments  of  fruit  from  such  localities.  Os- 
born  has  given  us  a  very  condensed  account  of  this  insect  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Iowa  Horticultural  Society  for  1892,  and  Prof. 
F.  L.  Harvey,  of  the  Maine  Experiment  Station,  a  very  full  treatise 
upon  it  in  a  bulletin  from  that  station.  For  our  present  purposes  the 
condensed  account  by  Osborn  will  answer  best.  The  illustrations 
used  here  are  those  used  by  Harvey. 

"  The  flies  that  deposit  the  eggs  from 
which  the  maggots  are  developed  appear 
in  June,  and  from  that  time  on  till  late 
in   fall.     The   eggs    are    deposited   by 

puncturing  the  skin  of  the  fruit.  Fio.^i.— Trypeta pomon€Ua,pup&.  [Af- 

™,  .      1  .        11  [>      ter  Harvey.] 

"The  eggs  are  deposited  m  all  parts  of 
the  apple,  but  most  commonly  upon  the  cheeks  and  less  on  the  calyx 
and  stem  ends.  They  hatch  in  four  or  five  days,  and  the  maggots  be- 
gin at  once  to  work  in  the  pulp  of  the  fruit,  and,  as  they  grow,  fill  it 
full  of  channels  and  burrows,  and  as  these  are  extended  they  coalesce 
and  reduce  the  pulp  to  a  series  of  cavities.  This  work  does  not  show 
on  the  outside  perceptibly,  and  the  fruit  may  be  shipped  as  good,  but 
soon  rots  and  gives  up  its  horde  of  larvae.  These  enter  the  ground  to 
become  pupse,  and  in  this  stage  the  insect  remains  overwinter  to  emerge 
the  following  season  sometime  between  May  and  autumn. 

REMEDIES. 

"The  remedies  most  strongly  recommended  are  the  immediate  de- 
struction of  the  wind-falls  in  infested  orchards,  which  can  be  done  by 
gathering  tnem  every  day  and  feeding  them  to  swine,  or  throwing 
them  into  pits,  that  should  be  covered  with  a  foot  or  two  of  earth  af- 
ter the  season  is  over.     Or,  where  it  can  be  done,  hogs  or  sheep  may  be 


194 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  THE 


Fig,    1 


Kg.    3. 

Fig.  ^.—  Trypelapomonella:  1,  female;  2  n^ale;  3  maggot,    [After  Harvey.] 


APPLE  TKEE  AND  ITS  FEUIT. 


195 


allowed  to  range  for  a  time  each  day  in  the  orchard  to  gather  up  the 
wind-falls,  and  if  enough  to  collect  them  thoroughly  this  would  be  the 
most  feasible  plan. 

"A  matter  requiring  special  attention  here  is  to  prevent  their  intro- 
duction from  other  localities,  and  particularly  states  further  south, 
from  which  we  get  a  large  supply  of  early  apples." 


THE  INSECT 

ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS, 


Extracted  from  the  Animal  Report  of  the  Nebraska  State  Board 
of  Agricidture  for  i8g2.—pp.  J60-466. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Although  "  corn  is  king "  in  Nebraska,  our  crops  of  small 
grains  are  not  insignificant.  The  insect  enemies  of  wheat,  oat), 
barley,  and  rye  therefore  demand  our  attention  nearly  or  quite  as 
much  as  do  those  which  attack  corn.  Accordingly,  during  the 
past  year  much  time  has  been  given  to  the  study  of  this  class  of 
insect  pests.  While  many  of  the  species  are  identical  for  the 
different  crops,  the  nature  of  the  plants  themselves  being  unlike, 
it  necessarily  follows  that  the  mode  of  attack  among  these  ene- 
mies must  vary  somewhat  in  each  case.  This  being  true,  some 
pains  has  been  taken  to  treat  of  them  according  to  their  host- 
plants. 

While  it  is  not  claimed  that  this  paper  is  complete  or  even 
original,  it  cannot  strictly  be  termed  a  compilation.  All  that  the 
writer  hopes  in  its  presentation  is  that  it  may  be  of  some  little 
value  to  those  for  whom  it  is  intended,  and  that  through  its  in- 
fluence some  efforts  may  be  made  towards  protecting  our  crops 
from  the  ravages  of  these  insect  pests. 

It  is  but  just  that  credit  should  be  given  here  to  the  various 
persons  who  have  aided  in  its  preparation.  First  of  all,  I  wish 
to  thank  Mr.  H.  G.  Barber,  a  special  student  and  assistant  of 
mine,  for  the  pains  with  which  he  has  gone  over  the  literature  at 
our  command  and  searched  out  the  insects  here  treated.  I  wish 
also  to  thank  him  for  the  drawings  for  some  of  the  original  fig- 
ures contained  in  the  body  of  the  work.  Mr.  David  Grifiith, 
Mr.  Fred  Clements,  and  Miss  Maysie  Ames  should  be  remem- 
bered for  like  services  rendered. 

LAWRENCE  BRUNER, 
Entomologist  to  State  Board. 


LIST  OF  THE  SPECIES  OF  INSECTS  TREATED. 


Hessian  Fly  [Cecydomyia  destructor  Say.) 
Unfriendly  Midge  [Cecydomyia  inimica  Fitch.)* 
Wheat  Stem  Midge  [Cecydomyia  culmicola  Morr.) 
Spotted- Winged  Midge  {Cecydomyia  caliptera  Fitch.) 
Grain  Midge  {Cecydomyia  granaria  Oliv.) 
Rye  Gall  Gnat  {Cecydomyia  secalina  Loew.) 
Wheat  Midge  [Diplosis  tritici  Kirby). 
Two-Horned  Crane  Fly  {Tipula  hicorms  Loew.) 
Narrow-Winged  Crane  Fly  [Tipida  angustipennis  Loew.) 
Border- Winged  Crane  Fly  {Tipula  costalis  Say.) 
Thick-Nosed  Crane  Fly  {Pachyrrhina  Sp.  ?) 
Wheat-Stem  Maggot  {Meromyza  americana  Fitch.) 
Variable  Wheat  Fly  [Oscinis  variabilis?  Loew.) 
Shank-Banded  Oscinis  ( Oscinis  tibialis  Fitch. ) 
Yellow-Hipped  Oscinis  [Oscinis  coxendix  Fitch.) 
Thick-Legged  Oscinis  [Oscinis  crassiformis  Fitch.) 

Companion  Wheat  Fly  Oscinis Sp.  ?) 

Common  Chlorops  [Chlorops  vulgaris  Fitch.) 
Feather- Horned  Chlorops  [Chlorops  antennalis  Fitch.) 
Wheat  Chlorops  [Chlorops  proxima  Say.) 
Obese  Siphonella  [Siphonella  obesa  Fitch.) 
Wheat  Mow  Fly  [Agromyza  tritici  Fitch.) 
Deceiving  Wheat  Fly  [Hylemyia  deceptiva  Fitch.) 
Similar  Wheat  Fly  [Hylemyia  sinilis  Fitch.) 

hymenoptera. 
Wheat  Saw-Fly   [Nematus  7narylandicus 'Norton) . 
Grass  Saw-Fly  [Dolerus  arvensis  Say. ) 
Collared  Saw-Fly  [Dolerus  collaris  Say.) 
Wheat-Stem  Saw-Fly  [Cephus  pygmams  Linn.) 
Western  Stem  Saw-Fly  [Cephus  occidentalis  Riley). 

*  Possibly  some  of  the  names  of  insects  presented  herewitli  are  synonyms.  I  have  not  had 
the  time  to  work  out  the  synonymy  of  these  myself;  and  without  going  over  all  the  literature 
myself  I  feel  justihed  in  leaving  the  names  stand  as  they  are. 


200  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

Wheat  Joint  Woem  {Isosoma  hordei  Harr.) 

Wheat  Straw  Worm  {Isosoma  iritici  Riley). 

Larger  Wheat  Straw  Worm  {Isosoma  grande  Riley). 

Rye  Straw  Worm  {Isosoma  elymi  Fitch.) 

Yellow-Legged  Joint  Worm  {Eurytoma  fulvipes  Fitch.) 

Ant   {Formica  schauffusii  Mayer.) 

lepidoptera. 
Dingy  Cut-Worm  {Agrotis  siibgothica  Haw.) 
Granulated  Cut-Worm  {Agrotis  annexa  Treat.) 
W-Marked  Cut- Worm  (^^rofis  clandestina  B-arr.) 
Variegated  Cut- Worm  {Agrotis  saucia  Huebn  ) 
Clay-Colored  Cut- Worm  {Agrotis  Morrisoniana  Riley). 
Bronzy  Cut- Worm  {Nephelodes  viola.ns  Guen6.) 
Glassy  Cut- Worm  {Hadena  devastatrix  Boisd.) 
Yellow-Headed  Cut-Worm  {Hadena  arctica  Boisd.) 
Wheat  Cut- Worm  {Prodenia  commelince  Guen. ) 
Fall  Army  Worm  {Laphygma  frugvperda  Guen.) 
Stalk  Borer  ( Gortyna  nitela  Gn. ) 
Army  Worm  {Leucania  unipunda  Haw. ) 
Wheat-Head  Army  Worm  {Leucania  alhilinea  Guen.) 
Garden  Web- Worm  {Laxostegc  similis  Guen.) 
Meal  Snout  Moth  {Pyralis  farinalis  Linn.) 
Mediterranean  Flour  Moth  {Ephestia  kuehniella  Zeller). 
Ephestia  interpunotella  Huebn. 
Vagabond  Crambus  {Crambus  vulgivagellus  Clem.) 
Burrowing  Web-AVorm  {Pseudanophora  acarnella  Clem.) 
Grain  Moth  ( Tinea  granella  Linn. ) 
Angoumois  Grain  Moth  {Oelechia  cerealella  Oliv.) 
Wheat  Leaf-Miner  {Elachista  prcematurella  Clem. ) 

coleoptera. 
Lesser  Grain  Beetle  {Silvanus  Surinamensis  Linn.) 
L^mophl^us  alternans  Er. 
Tenebeioides  mauritanica  Linn. 
Tenebrioides  dubia  Mels. 
Ageiotes  mancus  Say. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  201 

Pubescent  Wire  Worm  [Agriotes  piihescens  Melsh.) 

Drastekius  dorsalis  Say. 

Drasterius  elegans  Fabr. 

Common  Wire  Worm  [Melanotiis  communis  Gyll.) 

Melanots  fissilis  Say. 

SiTODEEPA  panicea  Linn. 
•  Rose  Chafer  [Macrodadylus  suhspinosus  Fabr.) 

May  Beetles,  White  Grubs  [Lachnosterna) . 

Varying  Anomala  [Anomnla  varians  Fabr. ) 

Colorado  Potato  Beetle  [Doryphora  10-lineata  Say.) 

Pari  A  nigrocyanea  Cr. 

Twelve-Spotted  Diabrotiba  [Diahi'oiica  12-pundata  Oliv.) 

Ch^tocnemis  confinis  Cr. 

Ch^toonemis  pulicaria  Mels. 

Psylliodes  insterstitialis  Lpc. 

European  Meal  Worm  (Tenebtio  molitor  Jjinn.) 

American  Meal  Worm  ( Tenebrio  ohscurus  Fabr. ) 

Feerugineous  Flour  Beetle  (  Tribolium  ferrugineum  Fabr. ) 

Philethus  bifasciatus. 

SiTODREPA  panicea  Linn. 

Gnathocerus  cornutus  Fabr. 

Palorus  depressus  Fabr. 
■  Oat  Weevil  [Macrops  porcellus  Say.) 

Grain  Weevil  [Calandra  granaria  Linn.) 

Remote-Punctured  Grain  Weevil  {Calandra   remotepunc- 
fa/a  Gyll.) 

Rice  Weevil  [Calandra  oryza  Linn.) 

Small  Bill-Bug  [Sphenoplwrus  parvulus  Gyll.) 

Stored  Grain  Rhyncophorid  [Brachytarsus  variegatus  Say.) 

Hemipteea. 

Chinch  Bug  (Blissus  leucopfcrus  Say.) 
Fa]  se  or  Bogus  CHI^CH  Bug  {Nysius  angustatus  Uhl.) 
Flea-Like  Negro  Bug  [CorimelcEna  pulicaria  Germ.) 
Tarnish  Plant  Bug  {Lygus  pratensis  Linn. ) 
Large-Eyed  Ground  Bug  [Geocoris  hullata  Say.) 


202  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

EucHisTis  nssiLis  Uhl. 
Dr^ocoris  rapidus  Say. 

PODISUS Sp  ? 

Sub-Order  Homopetra. 

Jassus  inimicus  Say. 

Black-Fronted  Leaf-Hopper  [Cicadula  nigrifons  Forbes.) 
Four- Lined  Leaf-Hopper  [Cicadula  quadrilineatus  Forbes.) 
Destructive  Leaf-Hopper  [Cicadula  exitosa  Uhl.) 

DiEDROCEPHALA  FLAVICEPS  Eiley. 

Tender  Foot  Leaf-Hopper  [Diedrocephala  mollipes  Say.) 

Stictocephala  lutea  Walk. 

Stictocephala  inermis  Fabr. 

Atynia  viridis  Emons. 

Wheat  Aphis  [Siphonophora  avence.) 

Grain  Aphis  [Siphonophora  granaria  Kirby. ) 

Apple  Aphis  [Aphis  mali  Linn. ) 

Aphis sp.  ? 

Myzus sp.  ? 

Megoura  — —  sp.  ? 
Toxoptera  graminum  Kond. 

Callipterus sp.  ? 

Rhopalosiphum sp.  ? 

Toxares sp? 

Schizoneura sp.  ? 

Thysanoptera. 

Wheat  Thrips  ( Thrips  triiici  Fitch. ) 
Three-Banded  Thrips  [Coleothrips  trifasciata  Fitch.) 

Orthoptera. 

Western  Cricket  [Anabrus  simplex  Hald. ) 
Cone- Headed  Grasshopper  [Conocephalus  attenuatus  Scudd. ) 
Red-Legged  Locust  [Melanojilus  femur-rmhr urn  DeG.) 
Lesser  Migratory  Locust  [Melanoplus  atlanis  Riley). 
Rocky  Mountain  Locust  [Melanoplus  spretus  Thos.) 
Devastating  Locust  [Melanoplus  devastator  Scudd.) 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  203 

Asa-Colored  Locust  [Melanoplus  cinereus  Scucld.) 
Detestible  Locust  {Melanoplus  foedus  ^cvlM.) 
KoBUST  Locust  {Melanoplus  rohustus  Scudd. ) 
Differential  Locust  [Melanoplus  differenUalis  Thos.) 
Two-Lined  Locust  [Melanoplus  bivittatiis  Say.) 
American  Locust  (Schistocerca  americana  Drury.) 
Pellucid-Winged  Locust  ( Camnula  j^ellucida  Scudd. ) 
Long-Winged  Locust  [Dissosteira  longipennis  Thos.) 
Green-Striped  Locust    (Chimm'ocepliala   viridifasciata   De 
Geer.) 

Field  Cricket  [Gryllus  ahhreviatus  Serv.) 
Gryllus  pennsylvanicus  Burm. 
Gryllus  luctuasus  Serv. 

THYSS.NURA. 

Garden  Flea  [Smynthurus  hortensis  Fitch.) 
Pretty  Ground  Flea  (^Smynthurus  elegans  Fitch.) 
Marked  Ground  Plea  (Smynthurus  signifer  Fitch.) 

Acarina. 

Stored  Grain  Mite  (Tyroglyphus  longior  Gervais.) 
Eed  Spider  ( Tetranychus  telarius  Linu. ) 

THE    HESSIAN    FLY. 

[Ceadomyia  destructor  Say.) 

The  Hessian  Fly  is  possibly  quite  as  important  an  insect 
enemy  of  the  small  grains  as  the  Chinch  Bug.  Certainly  it  has 
occupied  the  attention  of  entomological  writers  to  as  great  an 
extent  as  has  that  insect. 

Briefly  summed  up:  "The  Hessian  fly  is  a  small,  two-winged 
fly  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  long  and  of  a  dusky  color  (see 
illustrations),  and  appears  during  May  and  June  and  again  in 
September  and  October.  The  eggs  are  deposited  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  leaves,  and  the  young,  as  soon  as  they  hatch,  make 


204 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


Pig.  1.— Hessian  Fly:  f,  female;  gr,  male  fly;  a,  egg;  &,  larva;  e,  puparial^ 
or  flaxseed;   d,  pupa — enlarged;  e,  fly  natural  size,  laying  eggs;   7i,  injured 
plant  showing  flaxseeds;  i,  parasite  of  Hessian  fly.     [After  Riley.] 


Il^SEC  r  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  205 

their  way  clown  the  plant,  behind  the  sheath,  to  near  the  lower 
joints  and  there  become  imbedded  in  the  soft  part  of  the  stem. 
Here  they  pass  the  winter  and  also  the  summer,  in  the  former 
case  in  young  wheat,  and  in  the  latter  case  in  the  stubble.  The 
adults  appear  and  the  eggs  are  deposited  at  dates  varying  with 
the  latitude,  being  earlier  in  the  fall  to  the  northward  and  later 
to  the  southward."* 

EEMEDIES. 

This  insect  is  best  fought  by  choosing  preventives  rather  than 
remedies  after  the  insect  has  made  the  attack.  Such  as  waiting 
until  after  the  flies  have  issued  and  laid  their  eggs  in  fall,  the 
selection  of  the  very  best  seed  that  will  produce  strong,  healthy 
plants,  etc.     Professor  Webster,  in  writing  of  remedies,  says: 

"After  the  fly  has  gained  possession  of  a  field,  I  know  of  no 
application  that  can  be  made  which  will  destroy  it.  Doubtless 
pasturing  the  field,  if  early  sown,  will  often  result  in  reducing 
the  numbers  of  the  pest,  besides  giving  to  the  ground  that  com- 
pact, pulverized  nature,  which  it  should  have  had  at  the  first. 
No  doubt  many  larvse  and  'flax  seeds'  by  this  means  would  be 
crushed,  but  very  few  would  enter  into  the  food  of  the  animals 
grazing  thereon,  unless  the  plants  were  pulled  up  both  stem  and 
roots." 

This  is  chiefly  an  enemy  of  winter  or  fall  wheat,  and  for  that 
reason  has  been  mostly  absent  from  our  state. 

Several  other  species  of  these  Cecidomyiid  larvae  have  been 
mentioned  by  different  writers  as  working  upon  wheat.  They 
are  such  as 

The  Unfriendly  Midge.     Cecidomyia  inimica  Fitch. 
The  Wheat  Stem  Midge.     Cecidomyia  culmicola  Morr. 
The  Spotted- Winged  Midge.     Cecidomyia  calipiera  Fitch . 
The  Grain  Midge.     Cecidomyia  graminis  Oliv.  and 
The  Rye  Gall  Gnat.     Cecidomyia  secalina  Loew. 

•  F.  M.  Webster.  In  Bui.  Ohio  Agr.  Expr.  Station,  Vol.  IV..  No.  7,  pp.  157-58,  Nov.,  ISOl. 


206 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS, 

THE  WHEAT  MIDGE 


AINS.y 


[Di-plosis 
A  second  wheat  pest  that 


Fig.  2.— The  Wheat  Midge:  a, 
male;  6,  female;  7i,  flower  of 
wheat  showing  larva  on  kernal. 
Other  figures  showing  various 
parts  of  insect  more  highly  mag- 
nified.    [After  Fitch.] 


iritici,   Kirby). 

is  of  very  great  importance  in  this 
country  is  that  shown  herewith. 
(Fig.  2).  It  belongs  in  the  same 
family  with  the  preceding,  but 
differs  in  its  mode  of  attack.  The 
Midge  attacks  the  heads  where 
the  little  red  colored  larvse  often 
occur  in  such  numbers  as  to  give 
these  heads  a  rusty  appearance. 
It  has  also  been  pretty  definitely 
settled  that  these  larvae  are  also  oc- 
casionally found  under  the 
sheaths  of  growing  young  plants. 

REMEDIES. 

On  this  subject  Professor  Web- 
ster, our  best  authority  on  the  in- 
sect enemies  of  small  grains,  says, 
"  The  only  thoroughly  practical 
preventive,  and  also  the  one  prom- 
ising the  best  results,  is  deep 
plowing  of  wheat  stubble  in  the 
fall,  thereby  covering  the  midges 
so  deep  in  the  earth  that  they  are 
unable  to  reach  the  surface  in  the 
spring.  This  should  be  done  as 
soon  after  harvest  as  possible. 
Burning  the  stubble  before  plow- 
ing will  also  destroy  any  which 
have  remained  therein,  and  a  rota- 
tion of  crop  will  add  greatly  to 
the  efficiency  of  deep  plowing. 
Sowing  the  wheat  in  the  fall,  at  a 
distance      from      stubble     fields, 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


207 


obliges  the  adult  midges  to  travel  from  one  field  to  another,  dur- 
ing which  change  more  or  less  are  likely  to  be  destroyed." 

CEANE-FLY    LARV^. 

( Tipidicke. ) 

We  have,  among  other  insects  common  to  most  localities  in 
the  United  States,  a  number  of  species  of  two- winged  flies  that 
are  known  popularly  as  "Crane-flies,"  "Daddy  Long-legs," 
"Giant  mosquitoes,"  etc.  These  flies  in  their  larval  or  maggot 
state  are  vegetable  feeders,  and  live  in  the  ground  where  they 
attack  the  roots  of  various  plants.  In  European  countries  these 
insects  have  long  been  known  as  injurious  to  agriculture.  Ee- 
cently  they  have  also  been  ascertained  to  injure  small  grains  in 
portions  of  this  country.     In  Indiana  where  they   were  studied 


Fia.  3. — Tipula  hebes;  a,  larva,  6,  pupa;  c,  imago.    [After  Weed.] 

by  Prof.  F.  M.  'Webster,  they  have  been  destroyed  to  a  consider 
able  degree  by  a  fungus  disease  of  some  kind. 


208     .  INSECT  ENEMIES  OE  SMALL  GRAINS. 

In  a  recent  bulletin  issued  from  the  Ohio  Experiment  Station, 
Professor  Webster  has  devoted  considerable  space  to  a  discussion 
of  these  crane-flies.  He  mentions  no  less  than  four  distinct 
species  that  have  appeared  as  wheat  and  clover  pests  in  this 
country,     They  are 

The  Two-Hoened  Crane-Fly  ( Tipula  hicornis  Loew. ) 
The     Narrow- Winged    Crane-Fly     {Tipula    angusUpennis 
Loew.) 

The  Border- Winged  Crane-Fly  ( Tipula  costalis  Say. ) 

The  Thick-Nosed  Crane-Fly  [Pachyrrhina sp?) 

In  his  summary  of  the  matter  he  says:  *"With  the  increas- 
ing popularity  of  clover-growing,  both  for  pasture,  meadow,  seed. 


Fig.  4. — Pachyrrhina  sp?    [After  Webster.l 
and  fertilizer,   it  would  appear  that  we  are  on  ihe  verge   of  a 
new  era  with  respect  to  the  effects  of  these  insects  in  our  clover 


•Bui.  Ohio  Agric.  Exper.  Station,  Vol.,  V.,  p.  239. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  209 

fields;  and  even  now  one  who  watches  them  carefully  and  notes 
the  numbers  of  adults  which  are  often  to  be  observed  about  our 
clover  fields  cannot  help  but  suspect  that  they  are  working  an 
injury  which  we  either  fail  to  observe,  or,  observing,  attribute 
the  loss  occasioned  thereby  to  other  causes.  So  far  as  grain 
crops  are  concerned,  the  indications  are  that  the  American  hus- 
bandman will  have  little  trouble  in  preventing  serious  ravages 
in  his  fields.  What  the  future  of  our  clover  lands  is  to  be,  es- 
pecially if  allowed  to  remain  intact  for  a  number  of  years,  is  yet 
to  be  seen.  Of  the  species  studied,  there  is  not  one  the  ravages  of 
which  cannot  be  almost  entirely  prevented  in  young  wheat  by 
plowing  the  ground  during  late  August  or  early  September,  and 
there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  if  the  fall  growth  of  clover 
is  kept  mowed  or-  grazed  off  during  September  and  October  lit- 
tle trouble  will  likely  follow  from  the  depredations  of  the  larvae 
the  following  spring."  Figures  3  and  4  give  the  reader  an  idea 
of  the  appearance  of  these  "  Gallinippers,"  as  they  are  also  fre- 
quently called. 

THE  WHEAT  STEM  MAGGOT. ^„..-«^ 

[Meromyza  americana  Fitch.) 
Possibly  the  most  widely  distributed  of  all  our  wheat  stem 

worms,  is  the  one  herewith 
illustrated  (Figs  5  to  7), 
and  known  by  the  name 
of  Wheat  Stem  Maggot. 
It  works  in  the  stem. 
There  are  at  least  three 
broods  of  the  flies  each 
year  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  Possibly  what 
Fio.  5.—Meromyza  americana  imago.—   Professor  F.   M.  Webster, 

of  the  Ohio  agricultural 
experiment  station  has  to  say  of  it  will  be  most  to  the  point.  He 
writes,*  "In  the  ordinary  course  of  things,  then,  it  must  be  said 

•  Bui.  OMo  Agric.  Expr.  Station,  Vol.  V.,  No.  5,  p.  78. 


210 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


that  in  Ohio  there  are  three  generations  of  the  insect  each  year. 
Further  south  there  may  be  more,  as  we  have  found  all  stages  of 
the  insect  in  central  Texas  late  in  February.     With  us,  however, 


a.        b.  c. 

Fig.  6.  —  Meromyza 
americana;  a,  egg;  b, 
larva;  c,  puparia — en- 
larged.—[After  Forbes] 


Fig.  7." Young  wheat  plant;  «, 
showing  location  of  Stem  Maggot 
and  dead  central  leaf. — [Webster] 


we  may  looli  for  the  flies  in  our  wheat  fields  in  Sep- 
tember and  October,  where  the  eggs  (Fig.  6,  a)  are 
deposited  upon  the  plants,  the  young  maggots  mak- 
ing their  way  downward  to  a  point  indicated  by  a 
in  Fig.  7,  where  they  feed  upon  the  central  part  of 
the  stem,  cutting  it  entirely  ofp,  causing  it  to  discolor 
and  die.  Here  the  larvae  pass  the  winter,  emerging 
as  adults  (see  Fig.  5)  in  the  spring.  These  flies 
deposit  eggs  in  such  a  position  that  the  young  mag- 
gots will  readily  reach  the  succulent  part  of  the  straw 
just  above  the  upper  joint.  The  maggots  remain 
here,  feeding  upon  the  stem,  eventually  killing  it, 
thereby  causing  the  upper  portion  of  the  straw  and 
head  to  wither  and  die.   From  these  straws  the  adults      fig.  7a.  -  The 

W  he  a  t-s  t  e  m 

emerge  in  July  and  deposit  eggs  in  volunteer  wheat  fa°1fa°turai'  eiZ' 
and  grass,  the  maggots  working  now  precisely  as  c.'pCJXenlarled! 
later  in  the  fall,  and  developing  in  time  to  escape   [^fter  Fitch.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  211 

again,  as  flies,  and  deposit  on  young  wheat  in  the  fields  in  the  fall." 
The  insect  occurs  throughout  the  wheat  belt  of  eastern  North 
America,  from  Canada  to  Texas,   where  it  appears  to  be   quite 
common  at  most  every  locality  where  investigated. 

Professor  Webster  further  states  that  "the  pest  is  not  so  de- 
structive as  the  Hessian  fly,  yet  sometimes  works  serious  de- 
struction, and  probably  in  this  respect  ranks  with  the  Joint- 
worm  and  Wheat  Straw  Worms.  It  is,  however,  vastly  more 
difficult  to  destroy,  and,  feeding  as  it  does  in  both  grain  and 
grasses,  total  destruction  is  impossible.  As  the  adults  emerge 
soon  after  harvest,  it  is  clear  that  if  the  infested  straw  is  left  in 
the  fields,  they  will  soon  escape  to  deposit  their  eggs;  but  if  the 
grain  is  stacked  or  threshed  and  the  straw  stacked  or  burned, 
the  number  escaping  would  be  greatly  reduced,  as  it  is  not  likely 
that  those  in  the  center  of  the  stacks  would  be  able  to  make  their 
way  out,  and  the  threshing  machine  would  likely  destroy  many. 
If  plats  of  grain  were  sown  immediately  after  the  harvest  in  the 
vicinity  of  such  stacks,  many  of  the  females  could  no  doubt  be 
induced  to  deposit  their  eggs  therein  and  these  could  be  de- 
stroyed by  plowing  under.  How  much  could  be  accomplished 
by  late  sowing  of  grain  is  uncertain,  as  the  females  are  known  to 
occur  abundantly  up  to  October." 

These  flies  are  also  attacked  by  a  species  of  hymenopterous  par- 
asite and  by  a  mite,  both  of  which  destroy  the  larvse  or  maggots. 
THE  VAEIABLE  WHEAT  FLY. 
[Oscinis  variabilis,  Loew. ) 


Fig,  8. — Oscinis  variabilis,  larva — enlarged. — 
[Garman.] 


Fig.  9.— Do.    Pupa- 
enlarged.  — [  G  arman.  ] 

An  insect  that' is  quite  closely  related  to  the  Wheat  Bulb 


212  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

Worm  described  above,  so  far  as  its  mode  of  attack  is  concerned 
at  least,  and  one  that  will  answer  as  a  type  for  a  number  of  allied 
species  that  have  been  mentioned  as  attacking  small  grains  in 

this  country,  is  shown  herewith 
in  figures  8,  9,  and  10.  The  fig- 
ureswill  show  the  difference  be- 
tween these  two  little  flies,  so  no 
description  will  be  necessary. 

REMEDIES. 

Fig.  10.— Oscinis  variabilis?  Im-  In  case  of  the  European  frit- 
ago-enlarged.-[Garman.]  ^^  .^  ^^^  y^^^^  suggested  that  the 

application  of  "stimulating  dressing"  to  the  soil  would  in  some 
degree  counteract  the  injuries  of  the  insect  by  securing  a  stand 
of  grain  over  and  above  that  killed  by  its  grubs.  Whether  or 
not  such  a  remedy  will  have  to  be  resorted  to  in  this  country  re- 
mains to  be  seen.  The  "  stimulating  dressing  "  might  not  hurt 
the  grain  even  if  the  frit-fly  fails  to  appear  in  hurtful  numbers. 

Mr.  Garman  states  *  that  ' '  our  insect  has  thus  far  proved  most 
abundant  on  volunteer  plants.  The  greater  exemption  from  in- 
jury of  late  sown  wheat  seems  to  be  due  to  the  fact  that  many  of 
the  flies  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  volunteer  plants,  and  disap- 
pear before  the  sown  wheat  appears  above  ground.  Late  plant- 
ing may  consequently  be  expected  to  enable  farmers  to  avoid  in- 
jury during  the  fall  of  the  year. 

"Another  matter  which  I  am  satisfied  is  of  importance  in  con- 
nection with  injuries  of  insects  such  as  this  is  the  destruction  in 
the  fall  or  winter  of  volunteer  wheat  and  oats  with  the  pests  they 
harbor.  In  getting  specimens  of  the  grain  insects  for  examina- 
tion I  have  always  found  these  plants  to  yield  the  most.  They 
accumulate  on  them  in  some  cases  in  great  numbers,  the  Wheat 
bulb  worm,  the  Hessian  fly,  the  Grain  louse,  and  the  American 
frit-fly  sometimes  occurring  on  the  same  plants.  If  such  plants 
can  be  destroyed,  they  form  a  bait  to  attract  pests  from  the  sown 
grain.  If  they  are  permitted  to  grow  during  the  winter,  they 
are  an  encouragement  to  the  insects  and  a  menace  to  the  wheat 
the  next  spring." 

•  Bui.  Kentucky  Agr.  Expr.  Station,  No.  30,  p.  19,  Aug.  1890, 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GBAINS.  213 

The  Shank-banded  Oscinis,  Oscinis  tibialis  Fitch. 

The  Yellow-hipped  Oscinis,  Osciriis  coxendix  Fitch, 

The  Thick-legged  Oscinis,  Oscinis  crassifemoris  Fitch. 

The  Common  Chloeops,  Chlorops  vulgaris  Fitch. 

The  Feather-hoened  Chlorops,  Chlorops  antennalis  Fitch. 

The  Wheat  Chlorops,  Chlorops  p>roxima  Say. 

The  Companion  Wheat  Fly,  Oscinis Sp. 

The  Obese  Siphonella,  Siphonella  abesa  Fitch. 

The  Wheat  Mow  Fly,  Agromyza  tritici  Fitch. 

The  Deceiving  Wheat  Fly,  Hylemyia  deceptiva  Fitch. 

The  Similar  Wheat  Fly,  Hylemyia  similis  Fitch. 

The    above    named    are 

some  additional   species  of 

diptera   recorded  as   wheat 

insects.     They  are  all  more 

or  less  closely  related  to  the 

Wheat  Bulb  Worm  and  the 

Variable    Wheat    worm    or 
Fig.  11. — Hylemyia  deceptiva — enlarged    .  .  p  •,  a 

about  four  times,  with  a  hind  leg  still  American  trit-tly. 
more  enlarged. — [After  Fitch.] 

WHEAT    SAW-FLY.^-^ 
[Nematus  marylandicus  Norton. ) 

The  insect  which  is  figured  herewith  (Fig.  12)  has  been  ascer- 
tained to  attack  wheat  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  It  is 
also  known  as  a  grass  insect  in  some  localities. 

The  eggs  are  laid  by  the  females  in  the  edges  of  the  blades  as 
shown  at  a,  a.  These  hatch  in  the  course  of  two  weeks  to  six- 
teen days.  "The  newly  hatched  larva  (Fig.  12  6)  is  from  3  to 
4  mm.  long,  rather  slender  and  elongate  and  tapering  gradually 
from  the  head  to  the  last  segment;  head  yellowish,  eyes  black. 
Full  growth  is  attained  in  about  five  weeks."  When  full  grown 
they  measure  from  17  to  20  mm.  in  length  and  are  of  a  dirty  green- 
ish yellow  color.  They  then  enter  the  ground  where  they  con- 
struct elongate  cocoons  of  brownish  silk  mixed  with  dirt.  Here 
they  remain  until  the  following  spring  when  they  transform  to 


214 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


the  pupa,  and  later  to  the  imago  or  perfect  stage,  about  May  1st. 
The  perfect  insect  (e,  /,  Fig.  12)  varies  greatly  in  color,  the 


Fig.  12. — Nematus  marylandicus :  a  a,  eggs  in  wheat  blades;  6, 
young  larvae;  c,  full-grown  larva;  d,  cocoon  from  which  fly  has  es- 
caped: e  and  /,  adult  insects — e,  male;  /,  female;  a  and  b,  nat.  size; 
c  to  /,  enlarged.    [Insect  Life.] 

male  being  almost  black', 

and  the  female  yellowish 

with  dark  markings. 

Other  species  of  saw- 
flies  that  have  been  ob- 
served to  attack  small 
grains  are — 

DOLERUS  AVENSIS  Say, 
and 

DoLERUS  COLLARIS  Say, 
both  of  which  have  been 
reared,  and  at  least  three 
others    that  have  not  yet 


Fig.  13. 
sect  Life. 


Dolerus  arvensis,  female.     [In 
been  reared  to  maturity.     One  of  those  bred  [Dolerus  avensis) 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


215 


is  figured  herewith — Fig.  13.  It  is  blue-black  in  color  with 
the  part  between  the  wings  more  or  less  rufous  or  reddish- 
brown.  The  male  is  smaller,  slenderer  than  the  female,  and  is 
uniformly  blue-black  throughout. 

THE    WHEAT-STEM    SAW-FLY.^^''^ 

[Cephus  pygmceus  Linn.) 

The  insect  that  has  been  known 
for  years  in  European  countries 
as  the  "Corn  Saw-fly"  has  re- 
cently been  introduced  into  the 
eastern  portions  of  this  country 
where  it  has  been  doing  some  in- 
juries in  grain  fields.  It  has 
been  quite  carefully  studied  and 
reported  upon  by  Prof.  J.  H. 
Comstock  in  the  Bulletin  of  the 
Cornell  University  Experiment 
Station  for  November,  1889.  Pro- 
fessor Webster,  of  the  Ohio  sta- 
tion, also  gives  us  a  full  account 
of  this  insect  in  which  he  con- 
cludes about  as  follows:  "Pro- 
fessor Comstock  found  that  in  the 
latitude  of  central  New  York  the 
[After  adults  (Fig.  14  e)  emerged  from 
the  stubble  about  or  a  little  before 
the  middle  of  June,  just  as  the  heads  of  wheat  were  being  put 
forth  from  the  terminal  sheath.  The  eggs  were  deposited  almost 
anywhere  in  the  stem,  but  chiefly  in  the  upper  portion.  In 
whatever  part  of  the  straw  the  larva  happened  to  hatch,  it  ulti- 
mately worked  its  way  downward,  and  by  the  19th  of  July  all 
appeared  to  have  reached  the  base,  and  nearly  all  had  passed  be- 
low the  lower  joint  by  the  15th.  The  larva,  or  worm  (Fig.  14  a,  b) 
does  not  pass  out  of  the  straw,  but,  at  the  extreme  bottom, 
it  constructs  a  cocoon,  but  before  doing  this  it  girdles  the  straw 


Pig.  14. — Cephus  X)ygmcens:  a. 
outline  of  larva — nat.  size;  6,  lar- 
va enlarged;  c,  larva  in  wheat  stalk 
— nat.  size;  e,  adult  female;  /,  fe- 
male parasite — enlarged. 
Curtis.] 


216  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

from  within,  some  distance  above,  in  order  to  facilitate  its  exit 
after  it  has  transformed  to  the  adult." 

PBEVENTIVES    OR    REMEDIES. 

From  the  above,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  species  is  very  simi- 
lar to  the  other  stem-infesting  insects.  It  can,  therefore,  be  got- 
ten rid  of  by  burning  the  stubble  between  harvest  and  next 
spring — the  earlier  the  better  so  as  to  get  the  larvae  before  they 
get  too  far  down.  Deep  plowing  might  also  be  of  value.  The 
insect  is  also  subject  to  the  attacks  of  parasitic  insects  of  several 
kinds.  One  of  these,  a  European  species,  is  shown  in  the  fig- 
ure at  /. 

A  second  species  of  the  genus. 

The  Western  Stem  Saw-Fly  (Cephus  occidenfalis  Eiley)  is 
illustrated  herewith  (Fig.  15).  It  has  been  reared  from  the 
stems  of  a  hollow-stemmed  grass,  probably  a  wild  rye.  It  is 
met  with  in  California,  Oregon,  and  Montana.  A  third  species 
of  this  genus  (not  determined)  has  been  taken  upon  wild  rye 
here  in  Nebraska  upon  several  occasions.  At  least  fourteen  dis- 
tinct species  of  these  insects  have  been  described  from  various 
portions  of  North  America. 


Fig.  15. — Cephus  occidentalis:  a,  larva;  b,  imago,  female;  c, 
base  of  grass  gtalk  showing  excavation  of  larva — all  enlarged. 
[Insect  Life.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


THE  WHEAT  JOINT- WOEM. 


217 


Fig.    16. — Isosoma   hordei:    a,  wheat    straws 
showing  injury;  6,  female  insect.— [After  Eiley.] 


{Isosoma  hordei  Harr. ) 
By  refereuce  to  figure  16  the  reader  will  see  illustrated  a  small 

four  -  winged  insect 
enemy  of  small  grains 
together  with  its  mode 
of  attack.  It  is  what 
entomologists  know  as 
the  Wheat  Joint- 
worm,  originally  de- 
scribed by  Harris.  It 
is  quite  destructive 
in  some  parts  of  the 
country. 

The  female  lays  her 
eggs  in  the  wheat  stem 
near  the  joints.  These  hatch  into  larva  which  are  yellowish- 
white  with  brown-tipped  jaws,  similar  in  form  to  those  of  the 
next  species,  which  are  figured  in  19  a,  b.  Then,  by  their  pres- 
ence in  the  plant,  cause  a  more  or  less  abnormal  growth  in  the 
straw  near  the  joints  as  shown  in  figure  16  a.  So  far  as  is  known 
this  insect  is  single  brooded,  the  larva  hibernating  in  the  stubble 
and  transforming  the  following  spring.  The  mature  insect  which 
is  quite  small,  the  size  being  represented  in  figure  16  by  hair 
lines  at  left  of  the  figure  of  the  insect,  is  black  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  spot  on  the  shoulders  and  the  legs,  which  are  black  and 
yellowish,  and  the  eyes  which  are  reddish  brown. 

EEMEDIES. 

Since  the  insect  winters  in  the  stubble  the  remedy  is  simple. 
By  burning  the  stubble  at  any  time  during  fall,  winter,  or  spring 
before  the  1st  of  March,  all  the  insects  will  be  destroyed. 

The  Wheat  Straw  Worm,  Isosoma  tritici,  Riley. 

A  second  species  of  these  hymenopterous  enemies  of  small 
grain  is  figured  herewith.  It  differs  somewhat  from  the  preced- 
ing in  its  mode  of  attack,  as  well  as  in  habits  and  life  history. 


218 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


Fig.  18— Wheat  plant 
showing  work  of  Isos- 
oma  hordei.  —  [After 
Webster.] 


Fig.  17.— Wheat  plant  show- 
ing work  of  Isosoma  hordei. — 
[After  Webster.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


219 


Prof.  F.   M.  Webster  has  recently  studied  these  wheat-stem 
insects   and  sums  up  as  follows  when  speaking  of  tritici:    "  It 


Fig.  19. — Isosoma  tritici;   a,  b,  larva;  /,  adult  female;  g,  fore 
wing;  h,  hind  wing. — [Riley.] 

may  be  said  that  the  Wheat  Straw-worm  is  two  brooded — an 
exceptional  character  with  this  group  of  insects — the  adults  of 
the  second  brood  being  small,  almost  wholly  wiugless,  and  there- 
fore, non- migratory,  composed  almost  exclu- 
sively of  females.  These  appear  in  early 
spring  and  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  grow- 
ing wheat,  placing  them,  usually,  in  or  near 
the  embryo  head.  These  produce  worms 
which,  in  June,  develop  a  brood  (the  first) 
composed  wholly  of  females  (so  far  as 
known),  which  are  robust,  and  provided 
with  fully  developed  wings,  and,  therefore, 
compose  the  migratory  brood,  and  through 
them  the  insect  is  diffused  over  the  country. 
These  deposit  their  eggs  in  or  near  the  joints 
of  the  straw,  more  frequently  the  second 
below  the  head.  The  worms  from  these 
reach  maturity  and  pass  to  the  pupal  stage 
in  fall  to  emerge  in  early  spring  as  adults."' 

REMEDIES. 

As  this  insect  hibernates   in   the   stubble, 
burning  will   be  a   remedy.       Then,  too,    by  rotating  crops  the 


Fig.    20  . —  Isosoma 
grande.— [After  Riley.] 


220  INSECT  ENEMIES  OP  SMALL  GRAINS, 

wingless  spring  brood  will  be  prevented    from   depositing  their 

The  three  following  species,  viz.,  the  Laeger  Wheat  Straw 
Worm  [Isosoma  grande  Riley),  the  Rye  Straw  Worm  {^Iso- 
soma  ehjmi  French),  and  the  Yellow- Legged  Joint  Worm 
{Eurytoma  fulvipes  Fitch)  are  claimed  by  Professor  Webster  to 
be  synonyms  of  the  two  species  described  above. 

Ant.      [Formica  shanffusii  Mayer. ) 

Occasionally  ants  are  known  to  feed  upon  grain  of  different 
kinds.  The  present  species  has  been  observed  by  Professor 
Webster  to  eat  kernels  of  seed  wheat  that  had  not  been  suf- 
ficiently covered  in  sowing.  Other  species  could  undoubtedly 
be  added  were  their  injuries  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant 
looking  them  up. 

CUT  WORMS,  l^^ 

(Agrotis,  Mamestra,  and  Hadena.) 

It  is  needless  for  me  to  tell  the  farmers  of  Nebraska  that  cut- 
worms are  among  our  most  dreaded  insect  pests,  for  everybody 
who  has  tried  to  raise  corn,  or  garden  crops  of  any  description, 
for  several  years  in  succession,  has  had  experience  of  his  own 
concerning  their  powers  of  destruction.  These  insects  are  just 
as  apt  to  attack  small  grains  and  grasses  as  they  are  to  pay  their 
attention  to  corn,  garden  products,  etc.  This  being  the  case,  we 
must  include  these  insects  here.  The  following  account  of  these 
insects  extracted  from  the  report  on  "Corn  Insects"  will  give  a 
sort  of  generalization  for  the  group : 

The  cut-worms  are  moderately  large,  fleshy  worms  tapering 
gently  towards  both  ends.  When  full  grown  they  average  from 
one  and  one-fourth  to  one  and  one-half  inches  in  length,  are  dull 
yellowish-white  or  gray,  sometimes  inclining  to  greenish,  and 
clouded  and  striped  or  variously  marked  with  dull  black  or  smoky 
brown;  sometimes,  though  rarely,  with  deep  black  and  pure 
white.  One  of  these  [Agrotis  clandestina)  is  figured  herewith 
(Fig.  21),  the  illustration  showing  it  has  curled,  a  position  taken 
by  them  when  disturbed.       This  species  is  about  an   average  in 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


221 


size — some   species    being    larger  and  others  smaller  than  this. 

The  name  "out-worm "    embraces    the    numerous    species   of 

caterpillars  that  have  the  habit  of  concealing  themselves  during 

day  time,  either  beneath  some  object  lying  on  the  ground,  or  by 


Fig.  21.— The  W-marked  Cut-  Fig.  22,.— Agrotis  clavdestina; 

Worm    {Agrotis    claadestina);  moth.— [After  Riley.] 

larva. — [After  Riley.] 

directly  burying  themselves  just  below  the  surface,  and  coming 
forth  after  night  to  feed  upon  various  kinds  of  vegetation.  IMany 
of  them  confine  their  attacl^s  to  garden  products  and  other  low 
succulent  plants,  but  others  are  known  to  climb  up  the  trunks  of 
trees,  grape  vines,  and  a  variety  of  the  taller  kinds  of  vegetation 
belonging  to  garden,  vineyard,  and  orchard,  where  they  cause 
great  havoc  by  eating  the  buds  and  tender  leaves  in  early  spring. 
Cut- worms  are  the  young  of  a  certain  group  of  "Owlet"  moths, 
which  are  also  nocturnal  in  their  habits.  Both  the  larvae  and 
mature  insects  are,  as  a  rule,  inconspicuous  in  color,  being 
usually  dull  gray,  brown,  or  black,  or  have  these  colors  com- 
bined. 

There  are  upward  of  three  hundred  distinct  species  of  cut- 
worms found  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States ;  and  perhaps 
fully  one-third  that  number  occur  within  our  state  Of  these 
the  following  species  have  been  ascertained  to  work  on  the  small 
grains : 

The  Dingy  Cut-Worm.      (Agrotis  subgothica  Haw.) 
The  Granulated  Out- Worm.      {Agj^otis  annexa  Treat.) 
The  W-IMarked  Cut- Worm.      [Agrotis  clandestina  Harr.) 
The  Variegated  Cut- Worm.      [Agrotis  saiicia  Huebn.) 
The  Clay-Colored  Cut- Worm.    [Agrotis  Morrisoniana^iley). 
The  Bronzy  Cut- Worm.     {Nephelodes  violans  Guend ) 


222 


INSECT  ElSfEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


The  Glassy  Cut-AVorm.     {Hadena  devastatrix  Boisd.) 
The  Yellow-Headed  Cut-Worm.     {Hadena  arctica  Boisd. ) 
The  Wheat  Out-Wokm.     {Prodenia  commelmcB  Guen.) 


Fig.  2i.— Hadena  devasta- 
trix: larva.  [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  2S.—Nephelodes  vio- 
lans :  caterpillar.  [  After 
Lintner.] 


Fig.  26. — Hadena  devasta- 
trix :  moth.    [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  25. — Nephelodes  vio- 
lans :  moth.    [After  Lintner.] 

As  my  time  and  space  are  limited  I  shall  not  try  to  describe 
these  different  kinds  separately,  nor  can  I  figure  all  of  them 
now.  The  remarks — which  are  herewith  presented — will,  there- 
fore, be  general. 

BEMEDIES. 

It  is  a  rather  difficult  matter  to  name  any  single,  or  even  two 
or  three,  remedies  that  will  apply  to  all  cut- worm  depredations. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


22. 


Bifore  the  various  species  had  been  separately  studied,  it  was, 
and  eyea  now  is,  supposed  by    many  that  what  is  true  of  one   is 


Fig.  27.— The  Granulated  Cut-worm 
{Agrotis  annexa):  a,  larva;  /,  pupa;  h, 
moth.    [After  Riley.] 


Pig.  28.— The  Shagreened  Cut- 
worm. {Agrotis  malefida):  a,  larva; 
/,moth.    [After  Riley .1 


also  true  of  all  species  of  cut- worms.  The  different  kinds  ap- 
pear at  different  seasons,  and  work  in  different  ways,  hence  must 
be  fought  in  various  ways. 

In  the  garden  many  of  the  worms  can  be  taken  by  supplying 
artificial  hiding  places  for  them  in  the  form  of  blocks,  chips,  or 
boards,  which  can  be  examined  each  morning,  and  the  worms 
crushed.  Digging  about  hills  of  coro,  stalks  of  cabbage,  and 
other  plants  showing  recent  disturbance,  will  usually  result  in 
the  finding  of  the  culprit.  Cones  of  tar-paper  set  about  plants 
will  act  as  safeguards  against  their  attacks,  provided  the  paper 


Fig.  29.— Dark-sided  Cut-worm  „      „^      .  ,^^        ^ 

(Agrotis  messoria):  moth.  [After  Fig. 30.-Army  Worm Ta- 

Riiey.l  china  fly:   larva,  pupa,  im- 

ago, and  front  end  of  the 
Army  Worm  showing  eggs. 
[After  Riley.] 

projects  an  inch  above  ground.      Salt  is  also  said  to  be  repulsive 
to  the  worms.     This  latter  mode  of  fighting  injurious  insects  is 


224 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


Fig.  31.— Tachina 
or  Flesh  Fly. 


not  to  be  too  highly  recommended,  since  salt  is  also  more  or  less 
detrimental  to  the  growth  of  many  kinds  of  vegetation, 

The  very  best  remedy  that  has  thus  far  been  suggested  and 
tried  against  cut-worms  is  the  use  of  poisoned  grasses,  cabbage 
leaves,  or  clover.  This  is  done  by  taking  these  substances  and 
tying  them  into  loose  bunches,  and  then  sprinkling  them  with  a 
solution  of  Paris  green,  or  London  purple,  say  a  tab^espoon- 
ful  to  a  bucket  of  water.  Then  in  the  evening  scatter  these 
poisoned  baits  over  the  field  between  the  rows 
of  beets,  cabbage,  etc.  The  worms  will  be  at- 
tracted to  them,  eat,  and  die.  These  baits 
should  be  renewed  several  times,  at  intervals 
of  two  to  four  days,  according  to  the  state  of 
the  weather  and  the  abundance  of  the  worms. 
All  of  these  cut- worms  are  attacked  by  sev- 
eral kinds  of  parasites,  both  hymenopterous  and  dipterous. 
They  are  also  devoured  by  a  number  of  predaceous  beetles, 
while  birds  of  many  kinds  are  especially  fond  of  them.  One  of 
these  dipterous  parasites  is  shown  in  Fig.  30,  and  another  at 
Fig.  31. 

THE  FALL  ARMY  WORM./X"'^ 

[Laphygma  frugiperda  Guen.) 

Very  closely  related  to  the  cut-worms, 
and  resembling  them  much  in  general 
appearance  and  habits,  is  an  insect  that 
has  received  the  popular  name  of  Grass 
Worm  or  Fall  Army  Worm.  This  in- 
sect is  shown  in  Fig.  32,  where  the  ma- 
ture insect  is  figured.  This  insect  is  fre- 
quently very  numerous,  and  is  accord- 
ingly very  destructive.  Although  called 
the  Grass  Worm,  it  is  by  no  means  con- 
fined to  grasses  as  its  diet.  Corn  and 
other  grain  crops  are  just  as  eagerly  at- 
tacked and  devoured  by  it. 


Fig.  32. — Lapkygma  fru- 
giperda :  moth,  showing 
variations.    [After  Riley.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  225 

Since  this  is  such  an  important  insect,  and  as  I  have  not  treated 
of  it  before  in  any  of  my  reports  to  the  Society,  I  will  give  a 
quite  full  description  of  it  here.  The  following  characteriza- 
tions of  the  insect  are  copied  from  Prof.  S.  A.  Forbes's  accouni 
of  the  insect  in  the  fourteenth  report  of  the  entomologist  of 
Illinois: 

Moth.— "Front  wings  narrow,  apex  broadly  rounded.      General 
color  brownish-gray,  varied  with  bluish  white,  dusky  and  fulvous. 
A  bluish  white  patch  at  the  apex  of  the  wing,  usually  containing  a 
few  black  points.  Subterminal  line  arcuate,  of  the  same  color,  con- 
tinuous, with  this  patch  in  front,  sometimes  obsolete  at  the  terminal 
point  of  the  wing,  but  sometimes  complete.    Before  the  subtermi- 
nal line,  and  within  the  apical  patch,  is  a  dark  blotch  upon  the  mid- 
dle of  the  wing,  which  sometimes  contains  one  or  two  triangular 
black  points.     Transverse  anterior  and  transverse  posterior  lines 
sometimes  obsolete,  when  present  double,  zigzag.     Base  of  wing 
slightly  paler,  with   a  longitudinal   black  blotch  in  the  middle.  • 
Orbicular  spot  obliquely  oval,  pale,  testaceous,  with   an  oblique 
mark  of  same   color   immediately   without.     Beniform  spot   ob- 
scure,   distinguished    in    front    and    behind    by    small    whitish 
blotches,  the   posterior  linear,  often   shaped   like   the   letter  'e, 
the    anterior    variable.       Upon    the   costal    margin,   a   series  of 
whitish  dashes,  four  of  them  between  the  reniform  spot  and  the 
apex,  and  as  many  more,  obsolete,  between   that   and   the   base. 
Terminal  line  pale,  subterminal   space  dark,  divided  into  quad- 
rate  blotches  by  the  nervures.     Fringe   paler   gray,  the   scales 
tipped  with   black  between  the  nervures.     Under  surface  smoky 
but  paler  anteriorly  and  terminally,  and  fulvous  along  the  costa. 
Posterior  wings  translucent,  nearly  white  in  some  lights,  roseate 
in  others,  dusky  on  anterior  margin  and  on  anterior  half  of  outer 
margin.     Head,  thorax,  and  abdomen  nearly  uniform  gray ;  tho- 
rax with  a  V-shaped  black  mark  in  front." 


22G 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


Fig.  33. — Laphygmafm- 
giperda:  a,  larva;  6,  head 
of  same.     [After  Riley.] 


Caterpillar  or  larva. — "The  larvae  are 
dark,  the  general  effect  being  that  of  a 
nearly  black  insect  with  a  broad  buff  band 
below  the  stigmata,  and  a  narrow  yellow 
subdorsal  line.  The  dorsum  is  black  or  a 
very  dark  brown  with  a  yellow  median 
lioe,  and  irregular  white  lineations  along 
the  border  of  the  dorsal  space.  The  sub- 
dorsal band  is  also  black,  slightly  mottled 
along  the  lower  margin,  bordered  above 
by  a  yellow  line  which  is  itself  bordered 
above  and  below  by  a  shade  of  deeper 
black.  The  stigmatal  band  is  drab, 
mottled  with  pale  brown;  the  stigmata  black,  partly  within  the 
stigmatal  band  and  partly  within  the  subdorsal  band.  In  one 
specimen  the  dorsum  is  pale  chocolate  brown  with  scarcely  a 
trace  of  the  median  line.  The  heads  in  all  are  jet  black  except  on 
the  sides,  behind  the  eyes,  where  they  are  somewhat  mottled  with 
whitish.  The  Y-shaped  mark  upon  the  front  is  white  and  deeply 
impressed.  The  cervical  shield  is  black,  with  the  median  line 
and  subdorsal  yellow  lines  continued  upon  it.  Upon  the  caudal 
shield  the  median  line  widens  to  a  more  or  less  triangular  blotch. 
The  labrum  is  brown,  the  basal  joint  of  the  antennae  is  wholly 
white,  the  second  joint  white  with  a  black  ring  at  the  base,  and 
the  third  joint  brown.  The  venter  is  greenish  brown  beneath 
the  buff  lateral  band,  becoming  nearly  yellow  towards  the  bases 
of  the  prolegs.  Each  of  the  latter  has  a  glossy  black  patch 
upon  its  outer  surface.  Between  these  legs  the  surface  is  a 
brownish  green.  The  whole  ventral  area  is  finely  mottled  with 
yellow." 

Judging  from  the  notes  that  have  been  accumulated  by  differ- 
ent authors  in  reference  to  this  insect,  it  would  appear  that  there 
ar§  at  least  two  broods  of  the  worms  northward  and  three  south- 
ward in  the  United  States.  The  first  brood  northward  often 
attacks  the  young  corn,  and  by  eating  the  leaves  and  burrowing 
into  the  heart  of  the  plants  kills  them.  Later  in  the  summer 
the  leaves  and  the  tender  ears  are  damaged. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  227 

REMEDHES. 

As  it  is  ill  the  case  of  other  cut- worms  and  the  true  Army 
Worm,  so  it  is  with  reference  to  the  present  species.  They  are 
all  usually  held  in  check  by  their  natural  enemies,  certain  dip- 
terous and  hymenopterous  parasites.  Sometimes,  however,  these 
from  some  cause  or  other  fail  to  do  their  work  and  the  moth 
gains  the  ascendency.  When  such  is  the  case  artificial  means 
must  be  resorted  to  if  we  would  protect  our  crops  from  their 
ravages.  In  writing  on  this  feature  of  the  subject  Professor 
Forbes  has  the  following  to  say: 

"The  female  moths,  when  searching  for  a  proper  place  of  de- 
posit for  their  eggs,  are  evidently  attracted  to  the  ground  upon 
which  the  larvae  do  their  damage  by  the  presence  of  an  abun- 
dance of  green  food  for  the  latter,  a  fact  which  immediately  sug- 
gests early  plowing  of  ground  intended  for  winter  wheat,  as  a 
preventive  measure.  Doubtless,  except  for  the  allurement  of 
o-rowing  vegetation,  the  eggs  of  the  imago  would  be  planted 
elsewhere,  or  so  widely  scattered  as  to  effect  no  appreciable  dam- 
age. 

"  Certainly  in  that  region  where  the  grass  worm  prevailed  last 
year  it  would  be  prudent  to  plow  early  after  oats  when  it  is  in- 
tended to  plant  wheat. 

"If,  however,  this  precaution  has  been  neglected  and  hordes 
of  the  larvte  appear  in  the  wheat  field,  it  will  doubtless  prove 
difficult  to  arrest  their  ravages.  No  opportunities  for  experi- 
ment have  as  yet  offered,  notice  of  the  appearance  of  the  larvse 
in  the  wheat  field  having  been  received  too  late  to  permit  trial  of 
remedial  measures;  but  it  may  be  worth  while  to  suggest  heavy 
rolling  as  a  measure  likely  to  be  practicable  and  efficient  in  some 
instances.  This  has  occasionally  been  found  useful  for  the  de- 
struction of  the  true  Army  Worm.  One  farmer  in  Mason  county, 
who  noticed  that  the  grass  worms  were  extending  their  ravages 
rapidly  from  the  central  area  in  which  he  first  noticed  them,  be- 
lieved that  he  had  destroyed  the  brood  and  prevented  further  in- 
jury by  plowing  under  the  infested  area  and  rolling  it  heavily 
immediately  thereafter.      If  a  disposition  to  migration,  like  that 


228  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GKAINS. 

of  the  Army  Worm,  is  apparent,  the  march  of  the  host  may  be 
arrested  by  measures  which  have  been  found  more  or  less  effi- 
cient in  the  case  of  the  last  named  insect;  that  is,  a  furrow  may 
be  plowed  across  the  line  of  their  march,  when  the  worms  col- 
lecting therein  may  be  destroyed  by  dragging  a  log  along  the 
furrow.  If  their  appearance  is  easily  detected  while  they  are 
quite  small,  it  might  not  be  unprofitable  to  destroy  them  with 
Paris  green  or  other  form  of  insect  poison,  but  in  most  instances 
it  will  doubtless  be  less  expensive  to  resow  the  ground  than  to 
attempt  the  somewhat  doubtful  remedies  here  proposed." 

THE  STALK  BOEEE. 

nitela  Guen.) 

While  the  insect  that 
is  figured  herewith  (Fig. 
34)  is  chiefly  an  infestor 
of  the  stems  of  pithy 
plants,  it  is  also  a  feeder 
ji  z  o^i    other   plants   among 

Fig.  34.— Gorfywam^eZa;  1,  moth;  2,  larva,  which  are  the  small 
^'^"""^i^^y-^  grains.      It  is  described 

at  some  length  as  a  corn  insect  in  last  year's  report  where 
remedies  are  given.  The  reader  is  therefore  referred  to  that 
paper  for  an  account  of  its  habits,  etc. 

THE  AEMY  WOEM./-^^ 

{Leucania  imipuncta  Haw.) 

The  name  "Army  Worm"  has  been  indiscriminately  applied 
in  this  country  to  several  species  of  widely  separated  insects  that 
at  times  have  appeared  in  great  numbers,  and  moved  apparently 
with  a  single  impulse  as  of  an  army.  Among  these  can  be  men- 
tioned the  Cotton  Worm  {Aletia  xylina  Say.),  which  devastates 
the  cotton  crop  of  southern  states;  the  Grass  Worm  [Laphygma 
frugiperda  Sm.  &  Abb.),  also  a  southern  insect,  mentioned  on 
preceding  pages  of  this  paper;  the  Tent  Caterpillar  {Clisiocampa 


INSEC  r  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


229 


sylvatica  Harr.) ;  the  Fall  Web  Worm  [Hyphantria  textor  Harr.) ; 
and  one  or  two  others. 


Fio.  35. — The  Army  Worm  (ieMcawia  unipuncta: 
rt,  male  moth;  b,  abdomen  of  female,  natural  size; 
c.  eye;  d,  antennal  joints  of  male;  e,  do.  of  female, 
enlarged.    [After  Kiley.] 


Fig.  36.— Army 
Worm,  the  full 
grown  larva. [After 
Riley.] 


Here  in  Nebraska  the  larva  of  a  species  of  saw-fly   is  some- 
times "  dubbed  "  with  the  name  of  Army  Worm; 
one  of  the  Myaiapods  (a  Polydesmid)   is  also 
Fig.  37.  —Army  called  by  that  name.     There  is  perhaps  an  ex- 

^ft^'Rifey.r^''''  ^^^®  ^°^  *^^^  "  ^any-foot  "  receiving  the  name 
because  it  frequently  appears  in  veritable  armies 
upon  low  ground.  Unlike  the  true  Army  Worm  [Leucania 
unipuncta),  of  which  this  article  treats,  this  " thousand- leg  "  does 
no  particular  damage  to  growing  vegetation.  It  is  an  under- 
ground feeder,  and  only  comes  to  the  surface  during  excessively 
wet  weather,  and  when  mating. 

The  Army  Worm  is  almost  cosmopolitan  in  its  distribution, 
but  nowhere  except  in  the  United  States  does  it  appear  to  be  a 
pest.  Here,  too,  its  ravages  are  confined  chiefly  to  the  middle 
and  northern  portions  east  of  the  Rocky  mountain.  In  Nebraska 
it  was  first  observed  by  me  in  injurious  numbers  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1888,  and  then  only  over  a  limited  area  in  our  extreme 
northwestern  counties.  Of  course  it  may  have  been  present  in 
hurtful  numbers  prior  to  this,  and  its  ravages  not  have  come  to 
my  notice.     This  is  hardly  probable,  however,  since  I  have  been 


230  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

carefully  watching  the  coming  and  going  of  insect  pests  within 
the  state  for  upward  of  fifteen  years. 

This  insect  can  readily  be  recognized  by  a  comparison  with  the 
above  figures  (35,  36,  and  37).  The  moth  is  reddish -brown, 
more  or  less  thickly  sprinkled  with  minute  black  specks  over  the 
front  wings ;  and  it  also  has  a  small  white  spot  near  the  center  of 
each,  from  which  it  takes  its  specific  name.  The  larva  or  "worm  " 
is  striped  with  light  clay  brown,  which  colors  vary  somewhat 
in  different  individuals. 

REMEDIES    AND    NATURAL    ENEMIES. 

Chief  among  the  remedies  adopted  for  keeping  in  check  the  in- 
crease of  this  pest  is  the  burning  of  old  grass,  stubble,  and  other 
like  receptacles  for  the  eggs  and  hibernating  larvae.  Perhaps 
this  accounts  for  the  absence  of  the  pest  from  our  frontier  set- 
tlements in  this  and  other  western  states  for  the  past  twenty 
years  and  more,  the  customary  fall  and  early  spring  prairie  fires 
having  destroyed  such  eggs  and  larvae  as  would  otherwise  have 
entered  vipon  the  spring  and  summer  campaigns.      This  is  a  pre- 


FiG.  38.— Colsoma  colidum;  a,  the  beetle;  b,  the  larva.    [After  Riley.] 

ventive  before  the  pest  has  "materialized."  The  burning  should 
be  postponed  until  spring  has  well  advanced  to  be  of  mo^t 
benefit.  During  late  years  the  increase  of  area  cultivated  and 
the  prevention  of  starting  fires  on  the  prairies,  especially  in  the 
'•cattle  district"  of  the  northwest,  has  perhaps  been  the  direct 
cause  for  the  presence  of  this  insect  in  injurious  numbers. 

Now  that  it  is  with  us,  and  liable  to  remain,  we  must  be  ready 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  231 

to  meet  it  face  to  face.  Ditchiug,  rolling,  plowing,  etc.,  are 
remedies  that  can  be  used  advantageously.  Ditching  and  fenc- 
ing can  be  resorted  to  in  preventing  the  worms  from  passing 
from  one  field  to  another.  Fence  boards  set  on  edge  and  satu- 
rated with  kerosene  will  effectually  check  an  advancing  column, 
after  which  they  can  be  destroyed  by  crushing.     Ditching,  with 


Fig.  39. — Cicindela    Fig.  -LO.—Harpalus  calig-     Fig.  41.—Exorista  leuca- 
6-guttata.    [After      inosus.    [After  Riley.]  7iice.    [After  Walsh.] 

Riley.] 

the  opposite  side  of  the  ditch  from  the  advancing  host  "dug  un- 
der," will  "corral"  the  worms  for  the  time  being,  when  they  can 
be  destroyed  by  crushing,  or  by  covering  with  hay  or  straw  and 
setting  fire  to  it.  Poisoning  with  London  purple  and  Paris 
green  has  also  been  resorted  to  with  good  results;  but  as  long  as 
other  and  less  dangerous  methods  do  not  fail  it  is  advisable  not 
to  resort  to  these.  Grass  or  grain  that  has  been  sprayed  with 
these  poisons  should  never  be  fed  to  stock,  as  there  is  danger  of 
poisoning  animals  so  fed. 

During  ordinary  years  this,  as  well  as  most  all  other  injurious 
insects,  is  kept  in  check  by  its  natural  enemies;  but  occasionally, 
from  various  cause  these  of  themselves  are  not  sufficient  to  do 
the  work.  Among  the  enemies  of  the  Army  Worm  are  to  be 
mentioned  the  insectivorous  birds,  poultry,  reptiles,  and  when 
hard  pressed  for  food  they  even  devour  one  another.  Quite  a 
number  of  the  predaceous  beetles  and  their  larvse  destroy  hun- 
dreds of  the  worms.  Three  of  these  beetles  are  figured  here. 
Fig.  39  represents  Cicindela  6-guttata;  Fig.  40  is  Harpalus  cn- 
liginosus   Fabr. ;  and    Fig.  38,  a  and  h,  are   larva   and   imago  of 


232 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


THE 


the  Fiery  Calosoma,  Calosomn  calidum.  There  are  also  a  large 
number  of  true  parasites  that  work  upon  this  insect  in  one  or 
the  other  of  its  stages.  One  of  these  [Exorista  leucanice),  a 
Tachina  fly,  is  figured  at  Fig.  41.  Besides  the  several  species 
of  two-winged  flies  that  are  parasitic  upon  Leucania  unipiincta, 
there  are  certain  Ichneumonids  and  other  parasitic  Hymenoptera 
that  attack  the  worms  by  laying  their  eggs  within  their  hosts' 
bodies,  where  their  young  eat  away  their  vitals. 

WHEAT-HEAD    ARMY    WORm/**-*^ 

[Leucania  alhilinea  Guen. ) 

The  insect  that  is  illustrated  herewith, 
both  as  larva  and  imago,  is  known  as  the 
Wheat-head  Army  Worm.  "Wheat-head," 
because  of  its  feeding  upon  the  heads  of 
the  grain,  as  shown  in  Fig.  44,  a,  a,  and 
"Army  Worm,"  because  of  its  sometimes 
a  appearing  in  great  numbers.  Although 
it  is  not  a  constant  species  against  which 
the  grower  of  grains  is  obliged  to  wage 
war,  it  has  on  several  occasions  been 
known  to  do  considerable  injury  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country. 

As  will  be  noticed  by  reference  to  the 
scientific  name,  this  insect  is  classed  with 


Fig.  42.— Wheat-head  Army 
Worm:  a,  a,  larva;  h,  eggs — 
uat.  size;  c,d,egg,top  and  side 
view — enlarged.  [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  4:.3.--Wheat-head  Army 
Worm;  moth.      [After  Riley.] 


the  true  "Army  Worm"  in  the  genus  Leucania.     Its  appearance 
in  armies  is  therefore  not  to  be  wondered  at,  since  very  often  re- 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  233 

lated  forms  have  similar  habiis.  Xhe  following  description  of 
the  insect  is  copied  from  the  9th  report  of  the  state  Entomolo- 
gist of  Missouri: 

'■'■Maiure  larva. — Average  length  rather  more  than  an  inch. 
Colors  pale  yellow  and  brown.  The  brighter  marked  specimens 
have  the  dorsum  brown  with  a  narrow  medio-dorsal  yellow  line, 
obsolete  posteriorly;  then  a  sub-dorsal  sulphur-yellow  line  one- 
half  as  wide  and  suffused  in  middle  with  carneous;  then  a  still 
narrower  brown  line,  ill-defined,  beneath ;  then  a  yellow  line  of 
same  width  as  preceding;  then  a  somewhat  broader  brown-black 
stigmated  line;  then  a  stigmatal  sulphur-yellow  line  as  broad  as 
subdorsal  and  generally  relieved  below  with  pale  brown — all  the 
dark  parts,  except  the  black  stigmatal  line,  speckled  with  yel- 
lowish. Venter  dull  white.  Head  large,  wider  than  body,  pale 
yellow — almost  white,  with  brown-tipped  jaws,  mottlings  on  the 
cheeks,  and  two  broad,  brown  marks  (with  a  tendency  to  fade  in 
the  middle)  on  top,  narrowing  each  side  of  V-shaped  sutures. 
Stigmata  white,  with  black  annulus.  (In  unipwida  they  are 
dark  with  a  pale  annulus.)  Piliferous  spots,  though  more  con- 
spicuous than  in  unipunda  [true  Army  Worm]  in  first  stage, 
now  less  so.  Varies  considerably,  some  being  quite  dark  and 
others  greatly  suffused  with  rosaceous ;  but  the  pale  head,  dark 
stigmatal  line,  and  bright  yellow  lines  are  constant." 

The  imago,  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  43,  is  dull  straw  color  on 
front  wings  and  marked  with  white  and  darker  streaks  as  shown 
in  the  illustration.  The  hind  wings  are  satiny- white  with  a 
faint  dusky  tint  posteriorly. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country,  especially  southward,  there  are 
two  broods  of  the  larvsG  or  caterpillars;  while  northward  the  rule 
is  but  one  brood. 

REMEDIES    AND    ENEMIES. 

The  insect  is  quite  subject  to  the  attack  of  several  species  of 
parasitic  diptera  and  hymeuoptera.  It  is  these  that  usually  keep 
them  within  due  bounds.     Birds   and  other  insectivorous  verte- 


234  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

brates  also  do  much  iu  the  way  of  destroying  both  the  caterpillars 
and  moths. 

Professor  Riley  states  that  "it  cannot  be  successfully  'fought 
in  the  worm  state,  and  the  wheat  grower  who  has  been  troubled 
with  it  should  direct  his  attention  to  the  destruction  of  the 
chrysalids  by  late  plowing  and  harrowing  and  to  the  capture  of 
the  moths  in  spring  by  means  of  lights  and  sweetened  and 
poisoned  fluids."* 

THE  GARDEN  WEB-WORM. 

{Loxostege  similis  Guen.) 

Although  this  insect  has  been  quite  well  described  in  several 
of  the  other  reports  within  the  past  two  or  three  years,  I  con- 
sider it  of  sufficient  importance  even  as  a  small  grain  pest  to  treat 
of  it  in  this  connection  quite  fully.  I  will  therefore  repeat  what 
has  been  said  of  it  as  a  corn  insect.  It  is  one  of  our  more  recent 
iusect  enemies  and  is  an  especially  characteristic  western  species. 
From  its  already  large  food-plant  list  we  need  to  watch  it  in  the 
future. 

It  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  Garden  Web- Worm,  from  the 
fact  that  it  spins  a  web  while  feeding;  and  "Garden,"  because 
it  is  a  garden  frequenter  rather  than  a  field  inhabitant.  System- 
atically, it  belongs  to  the  family  of  moths  which  bear  the  name  of 
Fyralidce,  the  members  of  which  are  all  more  or  less  injurious. 
It  has  been  quite  thoroughly  treated  in  Professor  Riley's  annual 
report  to  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  for  the  year  1885,  pp. 
265-270.  I  will  therefore  quote  quite  largely  from  that  source. 
It  might  be  well  to  state  here  that  it  is  quite  variable  and  has 
been  several  times  described  and  has  a  large  synonomy. 

In  referring  to  the  distribution  of  this  insect  that  author  writes 
as  follows:  "■Eurycreon  rantalisjf  is  quite  a  widespread  species, 
occurring  all  over  the  United  States.  It  has  been  captured  in 
South  America,  and  the  original  description  of  the  species  wa, 
from  a  specimen  from  Montevideo." 

*C.  V.  Riley,  Ninth  Missouri  Kept.,  p.  5.5. 
fThis  is  one  of  the  synonyinicnames  that  have  been  given  to  Loxostogc  stintiealis.—BTUJieT. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


235 


c 

Fig.  44. — Garden  Web-Worm  (Loxo- 
stege):  a,  larva;  d,  pupa;  /,  moth — all 
slightly  enlarged.     [After  Riley.] 


DESCRIPTIVE. 

The   moth    (Fig.  44,  /)  has  an  average  expanse  of   18  mm. 

The  general  color  is  either 
orange  or  reddish  yellow,  in- 
clining to  buff,  or  more  com- 
monly a  lighter  or  darker 
shade  of  gray,  having,  in  cer- 
tain lights,  either  a  copperish 
or  greenish  reflection  very 
similar  to  that  on  the  well 
known  Cotton  Worm  Moth 
[Aletia  xylinci).  The  char- 
acteristic markings,  as  shown  in  the  figure,  are  the  darker  reni- 
form  and  obicular  spots,  with  a  paler  shade  between  them;  two 
irregular  transverse  pale  lines,  generally  relieved  by  darker 
shade,  most  intense  posteriorly  on  the  anterior  line  and  basally 
or  interiorly  on  the  posterior  line.  The  terminal  space  may  be 
either  paler  or  darker  than  the  ground  color.  The  markings  are 
very  variable,  however,  dark  specimens  [rantalis)  having  them 
all  well  defined,  paler  specimens  {communis)  less  so,  while  in 
others  {a-inisalis)  the  anterior  line  and  inner  portion  of  poste- 
rior line  may  be  lacking." 

"  The  larva  *  *  *  is  also  somewhat  variable  in  color,  be- 
ing either  pale  or  dark-yellow,  or  even  greenish -yellow.  It  is 
marked  with  rather  distinct  jet-black  piliferous  spots,  as  illus- 
trated in  the  figure.  The  piliferous  spots  are  also  more  or  less 
distinctly  relieved  by  a  pale  border. 

"  The  pupa  is  of  the  normal  brown  color  and  characterized  by 
the  tip  of  the  body  having  two  prominences,  each  furnished  with 
stout,  short  spines." 

Although  this  insect  is  known  to  extend  over  a  remarkably 
large  area,  its  injuries  have  thus  far  been  confined  to  the  region 
between  the  Missouri  river  and  the  Kocky  mountains;  nor  has  it 
been  observed  here  to.  any  great  extent — at  least,  north  of  the 
Platte  river.  This  area  is,  however,  quite  liable  to  be  increased 
with  the  general -cultivation  of  the  soil  in  the  beet  belt. 


286  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

FOOD    PLANTS. 

Like  many  of  our  more  injurious  insect  pests,  the  "Garden 
Web  Worm"  is  quite  a  general  feeder.  It  is  especially  one  that 
will  need  our  watchful  care  if  we  hope  to  keep  it  within  bounds, 
for  it  is  one  of  the  very  few  species  that  is  a  genuine  weed-feeder. 
In  fact,  it  is  more  partial  to  some  of  the  weeds  than  it  is  to  cul- 
tivated plants.  Professor  Riley  speaks  of  the  food  habits  of  this 
insect  as  follows  in  the  report  ali-eady  referred  to:  "  There  is  no 
question  but  that  the  preferred  food  of  this  species  is  the  foliage 
oi:  plants  of  the  genns  Amarantus,  called  indifferent  parts  of  the 
country  Amaranth,  Pig-weed,  and  Careless  weed.  This  was  very 
noticeable  in  our  observations  in  1873,  and  its  next  preference 
seemed  to  be  Purslane.  Professor  Snow  also  mentions  Lamb's 
Quarter  (also  called  "Pig- weed"  Chenoj)odiiim)  as  a  favorite 
food  plant.  Prof.  C.  E.  Bessey,  writing  from  Lincoln,  Nebraska, 
August  11,  mentioned  an  unusual  abundance  of  these  larvae  upon 
Amarantus  retroflexus  and  A.  bWoides.  Another  correspondent 
mentions  finding  them  the  present  year  (1885)  upon  the  common 
Cocklebur  [Xanfhmm  sirumarium) ,  but  this  was  probably  due 
to  their  excessive  abundance  and  want  of  proper  food.  This, 
also,  is  probably  the  case  with  the  common  Burdock  [Lappa), 
which  is  mentioned  by  another  correspondent.  Professor  Popenoe 
mentions,  among  the  weeds  injured,  Amarantus  alba,  Chenopo- 
dium  album.  Ambrosia  trifida,  Apocynum  cannabinum,  and  Grin- 
delia  squarrosa,  He  also  mentions  the  fact  that  they  injured  a 
bed  of  scarlet  verbenas." 

The  following  are  the  cultivated  plants  that  it  has  been  ob- 
served to  feed  upon:  Corn,  cotton,  cabbage,  cucumber,  castor 
beans,  melon,  squash,,  pea,  beans,  red  clover,  alsike,  al- 
falfa, pumpkin,  sweet  potato,  Irish  potato,  egg  plant,  tomato, 
orchard  grass,  timothy,  meadow  oat  grass,  millet,  flax,  tobacco, 
sugar  cane,  lettuce,  onions,  and  beets,  besides  others.  Thus  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  insect  is  a  more  general  feeder  than  might 
be  at  first  supposed.  In  fact  it  appears  to  be  able  to  feed  on 
almost  anything. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  237 

HABITS    AND    NATURAL    HISTORY. 

Under  this  heading  Professor  Riley,  whom  I  have  already 
quoted  largely,  says:  "  The  full  natural  history  of  the  species 
has  not  yet  been  made  out.  The  eggs  have  not  yet  been  de- 
scribed, the  method  of  hibernation  is  not  positively  known,  and 
the  number  of  annual  generations  has  not  been  carefully  de- 
termined." 

The  insect  is  evidently  a  many-brooded  species,  since  indica- 
tions point  to  at  least  three  or  four  sets  of  the  moths  during  the 
spring,  summer,  and  fall.  The  larva  is  a  web-maker,  and  always 
spins  as  it  goes  and  constructs  a  sort  of  retreat  in  which  it  re- 
mains during  the  day  time  at  rest.  It  is  described  by  Professor 
Popenoe  in  the  second  quarterly  report  for  1880  of  the  Kansas 
State  Board  of  Agriculture.  He  says:  "The  following  points 
in  its  history  are  the  partial  result  of  my  study  of  the  insect. 
Although  I  made  a  careful  search  for  the  egg,  I  failed  to  discover 
it  in  situ,  but  it  is  without  doubt  deposited  on  the  lower  side  of 
the  leaf,  or  low  down  among  the  bases  of  a  cluster  of  leaves,  as 
newly  hatched  larvae  are  found  in  both  these  situations,  from 
which  they  soon  wander  to  other  parts  of  the  plant.  As  soon  as 
it  (the  larva)  begins  to  move  about  it  begins  to  spin  the  web, 
and  this  is  increased  in  extent  as  the  movements  of  the  larva  are 


Fig.  45. — Colsoma  colidum;  a,  the  beetle;  b,  the  larva.     [After  Riley.] 

extended.  It  is  very  active  in  all  stages  of  growth  as  a  larva, 
and  springs  aside  quickly  when  touched,  sometimes  throwing 
itself  into  a  coil,  but  more  often  running  rapidly  away.  At  least 
in  early  life  the  larva,  when  thrown   off   a   leaf,  will  hang  by  a 


238  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

thread  of  silk.  In  case  a  single  leaf  is  of  sufficient  size,  as  in  the 
sweet  potato,  the  well-growu  larva  is  generally  found  on  the 
upper  side  in  a  shelter  formed  by  drawing  partly  together  the 
edges  of  the  leaf  by  the   silk  of  its  web.       In  this  shelter  it  is 


Fig.  4:6.—Harpalus  caliginosus.  Fig.  47. — Pasimachus  elongatus. 

[After  Riley.]  [After  Riley.] 

usually  found  at  rest  during  the  day,  hanging  by  its  feet,  back 
downward,  to  the  lower  surface  of  the  web.  In  other  plants  sev- 
eral leaves  may  be  drawn  together  for  a  place  of  concealment. 
If,  indeed,  the  larvae  are  not  partially  gregarious,  they  are  at 
least  not  disturbed  with  proximity  to  each  other,  as  several  may 
be  found  at  times  in  a  common  web,  although  I  believe  this  is 
exceptional.  As  they  are  forced  to  move  to  new  parts  of  the 
plant  for  fresh  food  their  webs  are  extended  until  finally  the  en- 
tire plant  is  covered.  The  young  devour  only  the  surface  and 
substance  of  the  leaf  on  the  side  where  they  are,  leaving  the 
veins  and  the  opposite  epidermis  untouched,  producing  a  "  skele- 
ton "  leaf.  As  they  grow  older,  however,  they  devour  all  por- 
tions of  the  leaf,  and  often  eat  also  the  petioles  and  tender  stems. 
Opportunity  has  not  been  given  to  determine  the  exact  length 
of  the  larval  life  of  this  insect,  but  judging  from  observations 
made,  this  cannot  greatly  exceed  a  week.  Parties  living  in  the 
region  where  the  insect  was  present  in  great  numbers  give  ten 
days  as  the  length  of  time  in  which  the  chief  destruction  was 
accomplished." 

Although  I   have  never  paid   personal  attention  to  this  insect, 
it  is  learned  from   the   records  of  others  that,  when  full  grown. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  239 

the  larva  spins  for  itself  a  delicate  silken  cocoon  among  the  de- 
bris on  the  ground  at  the  base  of  its  food  plant,  and  transforms 
to  the  pupa  or  chrysalis  stage.  It  remains  in  this  last  from  one 
to  two  weeks. 

NATURAL    ENEMIES. 

Like  all  other  injurious  insects,  this  one  is  quite  certain  to 
have  its  insect  enemies,  both  parasitic  and  predacoous.  Some 
of  the  ground-beetles,  like  those  illustrated  in  Figs.  45,  4G,  and 
47,  feed  upon  the  larvae,  while  a  Tachina  fly  has  been  bred  from 
ihem  both  here  and  in  Kansas.  A  number  of  hymenopterous 
parasites  have  also  been  reared  from  the  closely  related  Loxos- 
tege  sticticalis. 

THE  MEAL  SNOUT  MOTH. 

{Pyralis  farinalis  Linn.) 

While  this  insect  is  not  directly  a  grain  pest,  it  can  with  pro- 
priety be  included  here  on  the  grounds  of  its  being  a  "flour 
feeder." 

The  moth  is  a  member  of  the  Deltoids  or  Paralidae  family — a 
name  given  to  the  group  on  account  of  the  shape  of  these 
insects  when  at  rest.  This  meal  moth  has  the  front  pair  of 
wings  light  brown,  "  crossed  by  two  curved  white  lines,  and  with 
a  dark  chocolate-brown  spot  on  the  base  and  tip  of  each." 
These  moths  are  often  seen  upon  ceilings  of  rooms  and  out- 
buildings, and  can  easily  be  destroyed  at  such  times.  When 
they  infest  flour  bins  and  barrels  these  can  be  ransacked  and  the 
larvae  and  pupae  destroyed.  It  is  one  of  the  "household"  pests 
that  must  be  guarded  against  along  with  such  others  as  the 
Clothes  moths,  Carpet  beetle,  etc. 

THE    SO-CALLED    MEDITERRANEAN    FLOUR  MOTH. 

[Ephestia  kuhniella  Zeller. ) 

The  insect  which  is  herewith  figured  in  larva,  pupa,  and 
imago  (Fig.  48)    certainly  deserves  mention  here,  since    it   has 


240 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


become  a  great  pest  in  some  parts  of  the  couatry.  The  edit- 
ors  of  Insect  Life  in  an  article  on  this  insect,  after  giving  some 
references  to  its  probable  origin,  resume  as  follows : 

"  That  the  insect  is  with  us  now,  however,  in  destructive 
numbers,  and  that  it  is  a  pest  of  no  small  magnitude  cannot  be 
doubted.     The  condition  of  affairs  in  Canada,  as   stated  by  Mr. 


Fig.  48. — Ephestia  kuhniella:  a,  larva;  b,  pupa;  c,  imago — enlarged; 
d,  head  and  thoracic  joints  of  larva;  e,  abdominal  joints  of  same 
more  enlarged;  /,  moth  from  side,  resting  ;  g,  front  wing,  showing  more 
important  markings;  h,  venation  of  fore-wing;  i,  venation  of  hind- 
wing — somewhat  enlarged. — [Ins.  Life.] 

Fletcher  in  his  letter,  is  by  no  means  exaggerated.  Mr.  How- 
ard was  in  Canada  the  latter  part  of  August  and  accompanied 
Mr.  Fletcher  on  a  tour  of  inspection  to  the  worst  infested  estab- 
lishment, and  the  entire  building  was  completely  overrun  by 
these  creatures.  Hardly  a  crack  or  a  nail  hole  was  to  be  found 
without  the  cocoons  (Fig.  49),  and  every  bit  of  flour  or  grain 
remaining  was  spun  together  by  their  webs. 

LIFE    HISTORY. 

The  life  history  of  this  insect  can  be  given  briefly  as  follows: 
The  eggs  are  laid  by  the  parent  moth  upon  grain  or  flour  bags^ 
in  crevices  about  mills,  elevators,  store  houses,  etc.  These  soon 
hatch  and  the  young  begin  crawling  about  and  feeding  upon 
both  the  flour  and  grain,  spinning  a  web  as  they  go.  There  are 
Jwo  broods  each  year.     The   larvae  forsake   the  food  and  wander 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GllAINS.  241 

about  when  full  grown,  crawling  into  cracks  and  crevices  of  all 
kinds  preparatory  to  spinning  up  to  enter  the   pupa  stage.     The 


Fig.  49. — Ex>hestia  Tculiniella :  a,  cocoon  from 
below,  showing  pupa  through  the  thin  silk  at- 
taching the  cocoon  to  a  beam;  &,  same  from 
above— enlarged.     [Insect  Life.] 

insect,  besides  being  double -brooded,  is  also  exceedingly  prolific, 
there  having  been  678  eggs  counted  in  a  single  female. 

KEMEDIES. 

In  the  article  referred  to  above  it  is  stated  that  "  The  moths 
were  still  flying  about  in  numbers,  although  great  efforts  had  al- 
ready been  made  to  destroy  them.  The  government  of  Ontario 
made  strenuous  efforts  to  stamp  out  the  pest.  ***** 
The  machinery  was  taken  down  and  steamed,  the  walls  were 
scraped  down,  and  the  elevator  spouts  and  loose  wooden  work, 
together  with  pipes,  bags,  and  quantities  of  stock,  were  burned 
up;  belts,  cups,  and  cloth  bags  were  boiled,  and  the  whole  place 
was  subjected  to  sulphur  fumes.  Every  inch  of  space  about  the 
machinery  was  subjected  to  the  flames  of  a  kerosene  torch." 
White-washing  the  walls  and  subjecting  them  to  steam  heat  did 
not  effectually  destroy  the  pest.  Moving  and  airing  the  wheat 
is  claimed  to  have  little  or  no  effect  against  it. 


242 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


From  the  above  statements  it  at  ouce  becomes  apparent  that 
we  must  be  on  the  lookout  for  the  insect  in  the  mills.  These 
should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  several  times  during  the  year, 
especially  in  spring  and  fall;  and  at  all  times  the  accumulating 
dust  should  be  swept  up  and  disposed  of  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
destroy  such  insects  as  it  may  contain. 

Ephestia  inteepunctella  Huebn. 

Very  closely  related  to  the  pre- 
ceding is  a  second  species  of  Ephes- 
tia that  is  quite  important  as  a  small 
grain  and  flour  pest.  It  is  the  one 
that  sometimes  goes  by  the  name  of 
"Indian  Meal  Moth,"  {Ephestia  in- 
terpunctella),  but  is  distinct  from  the 
insect  that  is  known  as  the  "Meal 
Snout  Moth  which  is  mentioned  on 
a  preceding  page. 

While  the  present  species  has  very 
similar  habits  with  those  of  the  Med- 
iterranean Flour  Moth,  it  is  prob- 
ably less  to  be  dreaded  than  its  ally.  Still,  the  present  species 
is  capable  of  becoming  an  exceedingly  dangerous  pest  in  gran- 
aries and  mills,  and  it  should  be  carefully  guarded  against.  The 
accompanying  illustration  (Fig.  50),  when  compared  with  that 
of  the  former,  will  show  the  differences  between  the  two  insects. 
eemedies. 

What  is  said  under  this  head  in  reference  to  kuhniella  will 
apply  equally  well  here.  Whenever  these  insects  are  recognized 
they  should  immediately  be  attacked  with  energy.  They  can 
best  be  controlled  by  sprays  of  benzine  or  gasoline;  but  great 
care  should  be  taken  in  the  use  of  these  highly  inflammable  and 
explosive  liquids. 

THE  VAGABOND  CEAMBUS. 

{Crambus  vulqivagellus  Clem.) 
The  insect   which   is  figured  herewith,   although  normally  a 


Fig.  50. — Ephestia  inter- 
punctella:  a,  larva;  6,  pupa; 
c,  imago — enlarged;  d,  head 
and  thoracic  joints  of  larva 
still  more  enlarged,— [Insect 
Life.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GKAINS. 


243 


<^rass-feediug  species,  is  nevertiieless  at  times  quite  an  enemy 
of  small  grains.  It  is  very  well  represented  in  the  accompany- 
ing illustration  in  its  different  stages  of  growth,  hence  will  not 
be  described  in  detail.  Like  others  of  the  "web- worms,"  this 
species  conceals  itself  in  a  web  when  not  feeding,  and  in  which 
it  retreats  during  daytime.  This  web  is  well  illustrated  in  Fig. 
51  at  b.  Dr.  J.  A.  Lintuer,  in  his  first  report  as  entomologist  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  in  speakiug  of  the  family  characteristics 
of  this  insect  says  (p.  139):  "To  those  who  are  not  familiar 
with  that  division  of  the  pyralid  moths  to  which  this  species  be- 
longs— the  Cr'amhidce — it  may  be  of  interest  to  state   that  they 


Fig.  51.~Cramlms  vulghiagellus:   a,  larva;   b,  web  of     • 
same;  c,  cocoon;  d,  moth,  wings  expanded;  f,  same,  wings 
closed;  g,  egg— greatly  enlarged.     [After  Riley.]     Larva 
more  highly  magnified  at  left.     [After  Linter.] 

are  small  moths,  usually  less  than  an  inch  in  spread  of  wings, 
and  presenting  in  general  the  following  feature:  The  antennae 
are  thread-like ;  the  palpi  projecting  like  a  beak  for  some  dis- 
tance in  front  of  the  head;  body  and  legs  long  and  slender;  the 
front  wings  are  narrow  and  long  and  are  often  ornamented  with 
dots  and  lines  in  silver  or  gold;  the  hind  wings  are  semi -circu- 
lar and  plain,  and  in  repose  are  folded  like  a  fan  under  the  front 
wings;  both  pairs,  when  the  insect  is  at  rest,  are  wrapped  tightly 
around  the  body  in   cylindrical  form.     They  frequent   meadows 


244  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

and  pastures  during  the  latter  part  of  summer,  and  when  driven 
up  by  approaching  footsteps,  they  fly  for  a  short  distance  with 
a  staccato  flight,  when  they  alight  and  hide  beneath  a  leaf  or 
upon  a  blade  of  grass,  head  downward,  where,  from  their  man- 
ner of  folding  their  wings  about  them,  they  almost  escape  ob- 
servation. This  attitude,  at  rest,  is  the  explanation  of  the  name 
"Close- wings,"  sometimes  applied  to  them  in  England. 

NATURAL  ENEMIES  AND  REMEDIES. 

Several  of  the  beetles  that  are  figured  in  connection  with  the 
garden  Web  Worm  are  also  known  to  destroy  the  caterpillars  of 
this  insect.  Several  parasitic  insects  of  the  orders  Hymenoptera 
and  Diptera  have  also  been  reared  from  it,  so  that  ordinarily  it 
will  be  held  in  check  by  these  natural  enemies  and  no  special 
pains  need  be  taken  in  the  way  of  preventive  remedies. 

Rolling  the  infested  fields  will  crush  many  of  the  caterpillars 
and  numbers  of  the  parent  moths  can  be  attracted  by  lights  and 
destroyed. 

THE  BURROWING  WEB- WORM. 

{^Pseudonophara  arcanella  Clem.) 

Another  of  the  "Web- worms"  that  sometimes  attacks  the 
small  grains  is  the  species  known  as  the  "Burrowing  Web-worm." 
While  I  am  unable  to  give  an  illustration  of  it,  I  can  at  least  say 
a  few  words  about  its  method  of  living.  Prof.  S.  A.  Forbes  who 
has  studied  this  insect  has  published  an  account  of  the  result  of 
that  study  in  the  sixteenth  report  of  the  entomologist  of  the  state 
of  Illinois  (pp.  98-100,  PI.  YL,  Figs.  2,  3,  5). 

He  writes  of  this  insect  as  follows:  "  This  larva  constructs  a 
silk-lined  burrow  in  the  earth,  commonly  terminating  in  a  little 
chamber,  and  opening  above  in  a  webbed  mass  of  earth  or  rub- 
bish, into  which  its  silken  lining  is  extended.  This  web-worm 
is  commonest  in  meadows,  but  most  easily  detected  in  cultivated 
lands  the  first  year  after  grass.  We  have  taken  it  from  both  corn 
and  wheat  following  sod,  and  from  gardens,  hedge  rows,  and  the 
like. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


^45 


"This  web- worm  is  described  as  a  slender  caterpillar  frora  one 
and  one-eighth  to  one  and  one-fourth  inches  in  length.  General 
color,  a  soft  dusky-gray,  with  a  peculiar  silky  look,  darkening 
forward  to  the  head  and  first  thoracic  segment,  which  are  shining 
black.  Distinguished  especially  by  large,  irregular,  shining 
white  or  dusky  areas  on  the  thorax.  The  imago  or  parent  insect 
is  a  thick-bodied,  heavily-tufted,  and  wooly-looking  moth  of 
rather  dark  brownish -gray  color,  with  distinct  purple  gloss,  when 
fresh,  on  all  the  wings,  the  fore  wings  with  lighter  median  shades, 
and  indistinct  spot  and  fine  transverse  lineatious." 


THE  GRAIN  MOTH. 

(  Tinea  grcmella,  Linn. ) 

Although  this  insect  is 
principally  a  wheat  pest  it 
also  feeds  on  shelled  corn 
and  other  grains  when 
stored  for  any  length  of 
time.  When  such  is  the 
case  the  outside  of  the  ker- 
nels are  attacked  and  fast- 
ened together  with  webs 
of  silk.  The  insect  has 
been  described  by  a  num- 
ber of  different  American 
writers,     most     of    whom 

have  given  an  account  of  its  habits  and  mode  of  life, 
this  grain  insect  can  be  described  as  follows: 

The  moth,  which  is  about  one-third  of  an  inch  in  length  when 
its  wings  are  folded,  is  creamy  white,  with  six  brown  spots  on 
the  costa  of  each  front  wing,  and  with  a  long  brown  fringe  at 
their  ends.  It  is  commonly  found  about  old  granaries  during 
summer,  and  at  such  times  should  be  killed. 

REMEDIES, 

While  not  the   easiest  amoug  insects  to  get  rid  of,  the  grain 


Fig.  52. — Tinea  granella:  larva,  pupa, 
imago,  natural  size  and  enlarged;  also 
grain  fastened  together  by  web  of  larva. 
[After  Packard.] 


Briefly, 


246  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

moth  is  not  as  difficult  an  enemy  to  control  as  is  the  preceding. 
Usually  granaries  are  sufficiently  tight  to  permit  the  use  of  some 
such  a  remedy  as  the  bisulphide  of  carbon  alluded  to  above. 
When  this  is  the  case  it  will  be  quite  an  easy  matter  to  pour  some 
of  the  liquid  into  a  vessel  and  place  in  the  bin  containing  the  in- 
fested grain.  Now  cover  this  with  some  heavy  sheet  or  blanket 
so  as  to  retain  all  the  fumes  and  allow  them  to  penetrate  the  en- 
tire contents  of  the  bin.  Be  very  careful  not  to  bring  a  lighted 
lamp,  lantern,  cigar,  pipe,  or  any  other  fire  in  contact  with  the 
fumes,  for  they  are  very  inflammable.  Neither  should  this  be 
used  in  places  where  any  animal  or  person  will  be  confined  with 
it  for  any  length  of  time,  for  it  is  quite  as  destructive  to  higher 
animals  as  it  is  to  insects.  After  the  fumes  have  penetrated  the 
whole  contents  of  the  bin  or  granary  for  a  considerable  time, 
open  and  let  it  air.  No  poisonous  effects  are  left  behind,  and 
grain  thus  treated  does  not  appear  to  be  materially  injured  for 
planting. 

THE  ANGOUMOIS  GEAIN  MOTH. 

[Gelechia  cerealella,  Oliv.) 

"A  very  important  insect  in  the  south  to-day  is  the  so-called 
Angoumois  Grain  Moth.  It  abounds  in  the  southern  corn  fields 
and  granaries  to  an  alarming  extent;  but  as  we  go  north  its  num- 
bers lessen  and  its  injuries  decrease.  It  is  difficult  to  give  its 
native  home  with  certainty,  but  the  probabilities  are  that  it  was 
originally  a  south  European  insect.  It  has  been  known  in  this 
country  since  1728,  and  was  probably  introduced  by  the  early 
settlers  of  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas.  No  insect  is  more  easily 
carried  from  one  country  to  another,  as  it  will  breed  for  years 
without  intermission  in  a  bottle  of  grain  kept  as  a  sample,  or 
will  remain  unsuspected  in  kernels  in  parcels  of  seed." 

Professor  Riley,  in  his  report  as  United  States  entomologist 
for  the  year  1884,  has  devoted  considerable  space  to  this  insect's 
injuries,  habits,  and  history  in  this  country;  and  in  treating 
it  here  that  paper  will  be  largely  quoted.  He  writes  of  its 
natural    history    and    habits     as    follows:  "The    old    state- 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


247 


ment  concernirig  eggs  is:  'The  female  moth  lays  a  cluster  of 
from  twenty  to  thirty  eggs  upon  a  single  grain,  in  lines  or  little 
oblong  masses  in  the  longitudinal  channel.'  Our  own  experi- 
ments on  the  moth  in  confinement  show  that  the  eggs  are  pre- 
ferably laid  (in  ears  of  corn)  under  the  membrane  which 
adheres  to  the  basal  portion  of  the  seed,  and  although  the  mem- 
brane adheres  very  closely  the  moth  manages  to  insert  her  ovi- 
positor under  it.       They  are  also  deposited  in  both  the  longitu- 


FiG.  53.—Gelechia  cerealella;  a,  larva;  6,  pupa; 
c,  moth;  /,  mode  of  attack.     [After  Kiley.] 

dinal  and  transverse  grooves  between  the  grains.  Sometimes  there 
is  only  a  single  egg,  though  usually  they  occur  in  batches  of  as 
many  as  twenty-five.  The  eggs  are  delicate,  flat,  and  oval,  and 
are  pale  red  in  color,  with  prismatic  reflections  (Fig.  53  e). 

"The  young  larvse  are  very  active  and  crawl  rapidly  about, 
sustaining  themselves  by  silken  threads.  They  soon  find  tender 
places  and  bore  into  fhe  kernels,  leaving  almost  impreceptible 
openings.  With  wheat  it  is  stated  that  a  single  grain  has  never 
more  than  one  occupant,  but  with  corn  two  or  more  are  usually 
found.  The  larva  is  smooth  and  white,  with  a  brownish  head 
and  prothoracic  plate  (Fig.  53  a).  With  the  smaller  grains,  it 
has  been  inferred,  from  the  fact  that  the  quantity  of  excrement 
in  the  grain  seems  less  with  the  full  grown  larvse  than  with  the 
younger  ones,  that  the  larvae  eat  their  own  excrement  once  or 
twice.  At  full  growth  the  larva  cuts  a  circular  hole  in  the  cortex 
of  the  seed  for  the  exit  of  the  future  moth,  without,  however,  dis- 
placing the  stopper  thus  formed.    It  then  spins  a  delicate  cocoon 


248  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

within  the  grain,  in  which  it  transforms  to  pupa  (Fig.  53  6). 
The  moth  issues  through  the  previously  prepared  hole,  and  is  of 
a  very  light  grayish-brown  color,  more  or  less  spotted  with 
black,  and  with  an  expanse  of  wing  of  about  half  an  inch." 

REMEDIES. 

This  insect,  along  with  several  other  species  that  attack  stored 
grain,  are  readily  killed  by  means  of  fumes  of  bisulphide  of  car- 
bon, which  remedy  is  more  carefully  described  under  the  grain 
weevils.  It  also  is  infested  by  a  small  parasitic  hymenoptera 
that  is  of  some  value  in  keeping  it  in  check. 

WHEAT    LEAF-MINEE. 

[Elachista  prcemaiurella,  Clem.) 
A  little  insect  that  has  been  discovered  attacking  wheat  in 
some  parts  of  the  country  is  one  of  the  Tineidse  or  leaf-mining 
moths.  While  it  probably  never  will  become  of  sufficient  im- 
portance as  a  wheat  enemy  to  require  special  attention,  it  is  an 
excellent  example  of  the  many  insects  that  are  known  to  work 
upon  plants  without  becoming  specially  injurious.  Of  this  kind, 
each  plant  has  many  distinct  species  that  have  been  detected 
upon  it. 

Prof.  F.  M.  Webster,  of  the  Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station,  writes  of  this  insect  as  follows:  "Early  in  November, 
in  a  small  plat  of  wheat  sown  on  the  grounds  of  the  Experi- 
ment Station,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  July  20,  a  single  larva  was 
observed  mining  in  one  of  the  largest  leaves  of  one  of  the  plants, 
near  the  upper  extremity.  The  infected  plant  was  transferred 
to  the  insectary,  where  the  larva  continued  to  feed,  working  its 
way  downward  near  the  edge  of  the  leaf,  toward  the  base.  No- 
vember 16  it  abandoned  the  plant  and  was  placed  in  a  small 
glass  tube.  The  length  of  the  larva  at  this  time  was  about  10 
mm.,  the  color  yellowish,  with  dorsal  transverse  dark  bands.  Af- 
ter spinning  a  very  thin  white  cocoon,  through  which  its  every 
movement  could  be  clearly  observed,  it  passed  into  the  chrysalis 
stage  on  the  18th.  The  chrysalis  was  4  mm.  in  length,  and 
from  it  the  imago  emerged  December  1."* 

•Insect  Life,  Vol.  IV.,  Nos.  7  and  8,  p,  290.— April,  1S92. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  249 

THE  LESSER  GRAIN  BEETLE. 

[Silvanus  surinamensis  Linn.) 

''^Ji^^j^^        at^         -A-  very  common   insect   that   occurs   in   stored 

^  JpW         grain  of  various  kinds  is  that  herewith  illustrated 

I' ^^^j         and   known   by  the  above   name.      It  is  a  small 

1  ^^^P^^         brown  beetle  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  length, 

>Bp^if^       and  is  characterized  by  having  its  thorax  toothed 

^l^lilrk        along  the  sides,  while  the   top  is  provided  with 

/l^rilllx       grooves  and  intervening  ridges.     Both  the  ma- 

■^^|/  ture  insect  and  its  larvae  feed  upon  the  grain. 

Pig    54  —Sil-  ^^^^  insect  also  attacks  a  large  number  of  other 

vanus  Surinam-  substances.     It  is  especially  troublesome  to  dried 

ensis.       [H.    G.    „     .^  ,  •         ,   i  ,        ,  .     ., 

Barber.]  iruits,  seeds,  grains,  tobacco,   and  other  similar 

substances.  There  are  also  two  additional  species 
of  the  genus  which  have  been  known  to  feed  upon  grain.  They 
are 

SiLVANUS  CASSIA  Reich.,  and 

SiLVANUS    ADVENA  Waltl. 

Both  of  these  have  similar  habits  with  the  surinamensis , 
hence  need  not  be  described  separately.  All  three  of  them  can 
be  destroyed  by  the  use  of  bisulphide  of  carbon  in  the  manner 
described  for  several  other  stored  grain  pests. 

L^MOPHL^us  ALTEENANS  Er.  is  another  representative  of  the 
family  Cucujidse  that  has  been  found  feeding  in  flour  and  grain- 
Like  the  preceding  species  it  is  a  small  brownish  beetle,  less  than 
one-twelfth  of  an  inch  in  length.  If  not  very  numerous.  Dr. 
Linter  suggests  that  they  may  be  caused  to  leave  by  putting  gum 
camphor  or  naphthalin  crystals  in  cloth  and  placing  it  within  the 
flour. 

Tenebrioides  mauritanica  Linn. 

A  reference  to  Fig.  55  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the 
general  appearance  of  the  members  of  a  small  group  of  insects 
that  frequently  infest  granaries,  where  they  feed  upon  stored 
grain  to  some  extent  at  least. 

These  insects  can  be  described  briefly  as  "  oblong,  somewhat 


250 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


depressed  or  flattened  beetles,  of  a  black  or  reddish-black  color," 
which  are  usually  found  under  the  bark  of  dead  trees.  The  one 
figured  is  of  an  average  size.  While  feeding  to  some  extent 
upon  grain  and  grain  products,  most  of  the  species  are  carniv- 
orous in  their  food  habits.  Evidently  these  species  found  in 
granaries,  corn  cribs,  and  even  on  ears  of  corn  while  on  the 
stalks,  and  on  the  ground  in  fields,  also  live  to  some  extent  upon 
the  larvae  of  other  insects. 

Tenebkioides  dubia  Mels. 


>&% 


Fig.  55. — Tenebrioides  corticalis:  a,  larva; 
6,  beetle.     [After  Riley.] 


WIRE  WORMS. 

The  insects  which    bear   the  above 

name  are  so  very  prominent  among  the  „  ^^  ^^^.  „^  ^^  ^ 
.  ,    1         .  Fig.  56.— Wu-e  Worm,  Nat. 

farm  pests   belonging  to  this  class  of    Size. 

animal  life  that,  although  quite  thoroughly  described  in  my  last 
year's  report,  I  will  repeat  what  was  said  there.  Professor  J. 
H.  Comstock,  one  of  our  best  authorities  on  the  subject  of  insect 
depredations,  has  the  following  to  say  of  this  group  of  insects: 

"Wire  worms  occur  in  all  parts  of  our  country;  there  is 
hardly  a  cultivated  plant  that  they  do  not  infest;  and,  working 
as  they  do  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground,  they  are  ex- 
tremely difl&cult  to  reach  and  destroy.  Not  only  do  they  infest  a 
great  variety  of  plants,  but  they  are  very  liable  to  attack  them 
at  the  most  susceptible  period  of  their  growth,  before  they 
have  attained  sufficient  size  and  strength  to  withstand  the  at- 
tacks; and  often  seed  is  destroyed  before  it  has  germinated. 
Thus  fields  of  corn  or  other  grain  are  ruined  at  the  outset," 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  251 

Professor  Comstock  in  another  place  writes  of  these  insects: 
"In  our  studies  of  the  life  history  of  wire  worms  an  interesting 
point  was  determined,  which  is  of  more  practical  importance,  and 
will  therefore  be  mentioned  here.  Wire  worms  live  for  several 
years  in  the  worm  or  larval  state.  When  the  worms  are  grown 
they  change  to  pupae.  This  takes  place  in  the  species  that  com- 
monly infests  field  crops  during  the  summer.  The  pupa  state 
lasts  only  a  short  time,  the  insect  assuming  the  adult  form  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer.  But,  strange  to  say,  although  the 
adult  state  is  reached  at  this  time,  the  insect  remains  in  the  cell 
in  the  ground  in  which  it  has  undergone  its  transformation  till 
the  following  spring,  nearly  an  entire  year.  With  most  insects 
only  a  very  short  time  is  required,  after  the  change  from  the 
pupa  to  the  adult  state,  to  allow  the  body  to  harden,  and  the 
insect  to  become  fitted  for  active  life.  But  in  this  case  the  qui- 
escent period  after  the  adult  form  is  reached  is  not  only  of  lono- 
duration,  but  appears  to  be  necessary  to  the  life  of  the  insect; 
for  in  every  case  where  the  soil  in  the  breeding  cages  was  dis- 
turbed after  the  insects  had  transformed,  the  beetles  perished  in 
the  soil.  The  only  way  in  which  we  have  been  able  to  rear 
active  adults  has  been  to  leave  the  soil  in  the  breeding  cages  un- 
disturbed from  midsummer  till  the  following  spring. 

"This  experience  clearly  indicates  that  by  fall  plowing  we  can 
destroy  the  beetles  in  the  soil,  and  thus  prevent  their  maturing 
and  depositing  eggs  the  following  spring." 

These  wire  worms  are  quite  numerous  in  Nebraska,  as  well  as 
in  other  portions  of  the  country.  They  are  the  young  of  the 
insects  popularly  known  as  "click  beetles,"  "snapping  beetles," 
and  "skip-jacks,"  so  common  everywhere. 

These  wire  worms  are  rather  hard,  smooth,  cylindrical  larvae  of 
a  light  brownish-yellow  or  straw-yellow  color.  They  live,  as  a 
rule,  in  the  ground,  where  they  feed  upon  the  roots  of  various 
plants.  In  the  case  of  corn,  they  sometimes  bore  into  the  root, 
or  they  eat  away  the  small  fibrous  rootlets,  and  in  that  manner 
cause  the  plant  to  shrivel  up  and  die.  They  cannot  bore  into 
the  roots  of  the  small  grains,  but  they  eat  away  the  entire  root, 


252 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


and  iu  that  manner  kill  the  plants.  Wire  worms  are  said  to  be 
rather  long-lived,  some  of  them  remaining  in  that  stage  for  sev- 
eral years,  as  stated  above. 

Agriotes  mancus  Say. 

Our  commonest  species  in  grain  fields  is  the  one  known  to 
entomologists  by  the  above  name.  The  beetle  is  a  small,  short, 
thick  insect,  measuring  about  three-tenths  of  an  inch  in  length, 
and  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  covered  with  dirty  yellowish-gray 
hairs,  which  are  arranged  in  rows  upon  the  wing  covers. 

Agriostes  pubescens  Melsh.,  and  several  other  species  of  the 
same  genus,  along  with 

Drasterius  dorsalis  Say,  and 

Drasterius  elegans  Fabr.  are  very  common  in  fields.  The 
species  of  Drasterius  are  pretty  beetles.  They  are  testaceous  in 
color  and  marked  along  the  middle  of  the  thorax  and  across  the 
wing  covers  with  black. 


Fig.  51.-— Melan- 
osis comviunis. 
Nat.  size  and 
enlarged. 


Fig.  58. — The  common 
Snapping-beetle  [Melan- 
otus  communis):  a,  larva; 
b,  beetle.     [Original.] 


Melanotus  communis  Gyll. 

The  insect  which  is  figured  herewith  (Figs.  57  and 


a,  the 

larva,  b,  the  beetle)  is  even  more  common  than  either  of  the  pre- 
ceding; but  instead  of  working  so  much  in  corn  fields  is  more 
of  a  grass  and  small  grain  insect.  The  line  between  the  larva 
and  beetle  (Fig.  58)  indicates  the  length  of  the  latter,  which  is 
usually  of  a  dull  brown  color.     This  is  one  of  the  few  insects  of 


INSEC  r  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  253 

the  family  that  are  attracted  by  lights  at  night,   and  often  enter 
houses. 

REMEDIES. 

Melanotus  fissilis  Say. 

As  remarked  above,  fall  plowing  will  be  beneficial  by  destroy- 
ing the  immature  beetles  in  their  cells.  Another  method  which 
will  undoubtedly  prove  of  some  value  in  checking  the  ravages 
of  these  insects  is  trapping  the  beetles  in  spring  before  they 
have  deposited  their  eggs.  This  has  been  successfully  accom- 
plished in  New  York  state  by  Professor  Comstock,  from  whose 
writings  I  have  already  quoted  considerably. 

"The  results  of  our  efforts  to  trap  wire- worms  were  very  dif- 
ferent from  what  we  had  expected.  A  few  were  taken  in  traps 
baited  with  sweetened  dough,  not  enough,  however,  to  be  of  much 
practical  importance.  But  to  our  surprise,  large  numbers  of 
click- beetles  were  taken.  This  at  once  opened  a  new  line  of  in- 
vestigation. If  it  is  possible  to  trap  and  destroy  the  beetles  be- 
fore they  have  laid  their  eggs,  we  have  at  our  command  a  much 
more  effectual  method  of  preventing  the  ravages  of  wire-worms 
than  by  destroying  the  larvae  after  they  are  partially  grown. 
*  *  *  Of  the  substances  used  as  baits,  clover  attracted  by 
far  the  larger  number  of  beetles.  It  should  be  noted  in  this  con- 
nection that  a  neighboring  field,  separated  from  the  corn  field 
only  by  a  lane,  is  a  clover-meadow.  The  average  distance  of  our 
traps  from  the  meadow  was  less  than  ten  rods.  It  is  a  matter  to 
be  questioned  whether  the  beetles  spread  from  the  clover  field, 
or  whether  the  proximity  of  this  field  lessened  the  number  in  the 
corn  field  on  account  of  the  greater  attractions  of  the  clover.  The 
clover  baits  were  small  bunches,  about  one-quarter  pound  weight, 
of  freshly  cut  clover." 

That  this  method  of  trapping  is  feasible,  can  be  judged  from 
the  fact  that  Professor  Comstock  took  over  500  of  the  beetles  in 
a  single  night  in  twenty-four  traps — tin  pie  and  cake  dishes 
placed  in  the  field  above  ground. 

SITODEEPA  PANICEA  Linn. 
This  is  another  of  the  small  reddish -brown  beetles   that  often 


254 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GEAINS. 


attack  stored  grain.  It  measures  about  one-eiglith  of  an  inch 
in  length,  and  its  larva  is  a  bare,  thick,  "grub- worm-like"  affair. 
It  also  is  a  somewhat  general  feeder — being  found  sometimes  as 
a  museum  pest.  It  can  be  destroyed  by  the  use  of  bisulphide  of 
carbon  as  directe  I  for  several  other  species  of  similar  habits. 

THE  EOSE- CHAFER. 

[3Iacrodactylus  suhspinosus  Fabr.) 

The  insect  which  bears  the  above  name  has  become  one  of  our 
most  generally  distributed  injurious  insects  of  the  country. 
Like  many  of  the  others,  it  is  also  a  very  general  feeder.  As  a 
corn  insect  it  works  mostly  in  the  mature  stage,  but  as  a  small 
grain  enemy  works  also  in  the  grub  or  larva  state. 

This  species  has  been  treated  very  fully  by  Prof.  C.  V.  Riley 
in  the  April  number  of  Insect  Life  (Vol.  IL,  pp.  295-302,  1890); 
also  by  Prof.  J.  B.  Smith,  in  a  special  bulletin  issued  from  the 


Fig.  59. — The  Rose  Beetle  (Macrodaetylus  siib- 
spinosus):  a,  female  beetle;  b,  c,  d,  e,  f,  and  g, 
outline  figures  showing  character  of  the  sexes, 
etc.— all  enlarged.    [After  Riley.[ 

New  Jersey  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  and  in  my  report 
on  "Corn  Insects"  issued  last  year  as  part  of  the  annual  report 
of  this  society.  The  following  account  of  the  insect  is  taken 
mostly  from  the  article  by  Professor  Riley: 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


25? 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  natural  history  of  this  insect  can  be  briefly  stated  as  fol- 
lows: "According  to  Harris,  the  female  beetle  lays  her  eggs,  to 
the  number  of  about  thirty,  about  the  middle  of  July,  at  a  depth 
of  from  one  to  two  inches  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
He  does  not  state  the  favorite  place  for  oviposition,  but  in  our  ex- 
perience the  larv88  are  especially  abuudant  in  low,  open  maadow 
land  or  in  cultivated  fields;  particularly  where  the  soil  is  light 
and  sandy.  Harris  states  that  the  eggs  hatch  in  about  twenty 
days,  and,  while  the  period  will  vary  with  the  temperature,  the 
larva  is  found  fully  grown  during  the  autumn  mouths.  With 
the  approach  of  cold  weather  it  works  deeper  into  the  ground, 
but  in  the  spring  will  frequently  be  found  near  the  surface  or 
under  stones  and  other  similar  objects,  where  it  forms  a  sort  of 
cell  in  which  to  pupate.'  In  confinement  the  pupa  state  has 
lasted  from  two  to  four  weeks.  The  perfect  beetle  issues  in  the 
New  Ed  gland  states  about  the  second  week  of  June,  while  in  the 


Fia.  60. — The  Rose  Beetle  (Macrodactylus 
Siihapinosus) :  a,  full  grown  larva,  side  view;  6, 
heal  of  larva,  front  view;  e,  left  mandible  of 
jaw  of  larva  from  below;  /,  pupa,  below— all 
magnified.     [After  Riley.] 

latitude  of  Washington  it  is  seen  about  two  weeks  earlier.  It 
appears  suddenly  in  great  numbers,  as  has  often  been  observed 
and  commented  upon,  but  this  is  in  conformity  with  the  habits 
of    other   Lamellicorn   beetles,  e.    g.,  our   common   May    beetles 


250  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

[Lachnosterna) ,  and  this  habit  is  still  more  marked  in  certain 
species  of  Hoplia  and  Serica.  It  remains  active  a  little  over  a 
month,  and  then  soon  disappears.  The  species  produces,  there- 
fore, but  one  annual  generation,  the  time  of  the  appearing  of 
the  beetle  in  greatest  abundance  being  coincident  with  the  flower- 
ing of  the  grape  vine." 

DISTRIBUTION. 

This  beetle  occurs  from  the  New  England  states  westward  to 
the  eastern  foot  hills  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  is  found  from 
the  Indian  Territory  northward  to  th  e  British  possessions.  Its 
greatest  numbers,  however,  are  to  be  found  near  the  Atlantic 
coast  in  Maryland,  Delaware,  and  New  Jersey,  where  horticul- 
ture and  farming  have  been  carried  on  for  many  more  years  than 
farther  to  tha  westward.  It  is  also  spreading  to  some  extent  into 
new  regions. 

ENEMIES  AND  REMEDIES. 

Unless  they  appear  in  too  great  numbers  the  beetles  can  be 
destroyed  to  some  extent  by  the  use  of  London  purple  and  Paris 
green.  They  can  also  be  gathered  by  beating  the  plants  upon 
which  they  have  congregated,  over  an  inverted  umbrella  and  af- 
terwards destroyed.  The  larvae  are  more  difficult  to  reach,  but 
over  small  areas  can  be  destroyed  by  drenching  the  surface  with 
the  kerosene  emulsion  and  allowing  it  to  soak  in.  Both  the 
imago  and  the  larva  are  eagerly  devoured  by  a  number  of  birds, 
and  domestic  fowls  are  remarkably  expert  in  the  art  of  getting 
away  with  the  beetles.  Reptiles  and  some  of  the  smaller  mam- 
mals are  also  very  fond  of  them;  while  many  an  one  is  killed  by 
Carabid  beetles. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


257 


MAY  BEETLES,  WHITE  GEUBS. 

[Lachnosterna.) 

The  common  May-beetles,  Lachnosterna  fusca,  and  allies,  are 

among  the  most  trouble- 
some of  all  insect  pests 
with  which  the  agricul- 
turist has  to  deal.  They 
are  accordingly  to  be 
added  to  a  list  of  small 
grain  pests.  Here  in  the 
west  these  large  and  vor- 
acious  insects  are  equally 
as  numerous  upon  the 
prairies  as  they  are  in  the 
vicinity  of  timber.  Id 
fact,  they  appear  to  be 
even  more  plentiful  about 
new  farms  than  old  ones, 
because  the  tree-growth 
on  the  newly  cultivated  grounds  is  so  scant  that  a  moderate  num- 
ber of  the  beetles  will  very  quickly  entirely  strip  off  the  leaves, 
while  they  would  make  but  very  little  show  if  working  on  the 
foliage  of  trees  of  moderate  or  large  size.  All  of  these  May- 
beetles  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits  and  feed  while  we  are  asleep; 
and  during  day  time  lie  hidden  away  in  the  ground,  where  they 
burrow  during  early  morning,  only  to  come  forth  again  the  fol- 
lowing evening  to  continue  their  work  of  destruction  among  our 
fruit,  shade,  and  forest  trees. 

One  of  these  beetles  (Lachnosterna  fusca)  is  represented  in 
Fig.  61,  where  the  pupa,  mature  larva  or  grub,  and  the  imago 
are  all  shown  natural  size. 

These  different  species  of  May  and  June  beetles  are  usually 
about  the  size  of  the  one  shown  in  the  accompanying  figure, 
though  some  are  larger  and  others  smaller.  They  are  mahogany- 
brown  or  yellowish  brown  in  color,  and  either  smooth  or  slightly 


Fig.  61.— The  Common  May-beetle  {Lach- 
nosterna fusca):  1,  the  pupa;  2,  the  larva  or 
white  grub  in  its  ground  cell;  3  and  4,  the 
beetle,  side  and  dorsal  views.  [After  Riley.] 


258 


INSEC  r  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


roughened;  and  some  of  them  have  a  covering  of  short  hairs, 
among  which  are  several  longitudinal  rows  of  longer  ones  upon 
the  elytra,  while  a  few  are  more  or  loss  pruinose — /.  e.,  covered 
with  a  bluish-white  powdery-like  substance  similar  to  that  cov- 
ering ripe  or  nearly  ripe  plums. 

So  common  and  destructive  are  these  insects  [fuscn  and  allied 
forms)  throughout  the  country  that,  next  to  the  Colorado  Po- 
tato-beetle, Chinch-bug,  Codling-moth,  Eocky  Mountain  Locust, 
and  a  few  others  of  our  most  injurious  insects,  they  have  received 
more  attention  thau  most  of  our  insect  pests.  Their  work  as 
small  grain  enemies  is  done  chiefly  in  the  grub  state,  although 
much  injury  is  also  committed  by  the  beetles  themselves  to  these 
crops. 

LIFE-HISTORY. 

The  life-history  of  these  beetles  has  been  given  in  the  follow- 
ing summary  by  Professor 
Riley  (First  Eeport  Insects  of 
Missouri,  p.  157):  "Soon 
after  pairing,  the  female  beetle 
creeps  into  the  earth,  espe- 
cially wherever  the  soil  is  loose 
and  rough,  and  after  deposit- 
ing her  eggs,  to  the  number 
of  forty  or  fifty,  dies.  These  hatch  in  the  course  of  a  month, 
and  the  grubs,  growing  slowly,  do  not  attain  full  size  until  late 
summer  of  the  second  year,  when  they  construct  an  ovoid  cham- 
ber, lined  with  a  gelatinous  fluid,  change  into  the  pupa  (see  Fig 
6i,  1),  and  soon  after  into  beetles.  These  last  are  first  white^ 
and  all  the  parts  soft,  as  in  the  pupa,  and  they  frequently  remain 
in  the  earth  for  weeks  at  a  time,  until  thoroughly  hardened,  and 
then  on  some  favorable  night  in  May  they  rise  in  swarms  and  fill 
the  air.  It  is  very  probable  that  under  favorable  conditions 
some  of  the  grubs  become  pupaj,  and  even  beetles,  the  fall  sub- 
sequent to  their  second  spring;  but  growing  torpid  on  approach 
of  winter,  remain  in  this  state  in  the  earth,  and  do  not  quit  it  any 
sooner  than  those  transformed  in  the  spring.   On  this  hypothesis. 


Fig.  G2.— White  Grub  Parasite:  a, 
imago;  h,  head  of  larva;  c,  larva;  d, 
cocoon.     [After  Riley.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


259 


their  being  occasionally  turned  up  in   the  fresh   beetle  state  at 

fall  plowing  becomes  intelligible." 

From  this  summary  then  we  are  led  to  believe 
that  the  grub  or  larval  state  lasts  more  than  a 
year — a  long  time  when  we  take  into  considera- 
tion the  comparatively  short  life  of  the  beetle.  The 
actual  life  of  which,  after  it  has  once  left  the 
ground,  is  but  a  few  days — not  more  than  two 
weeks,  and  of  tener  less. 


REMEDIES. 

On  account  of  their  underground  life  the  larvae 
or  grubs  of  the  May- beetles  are  very  dif3&cult  to 
reach  and  destroy.  They  are  not  without  their 
natural  enemies,  both  vertebrate  and  invertebrate, 
and  the  majority  of  them  are  thus  destroyed  be- 
tween the  time  of  hatching  from  the  eggs  and 
issuing  as  beetles.  A  large  number  of  our  birds 
are  especially  fond  of  the  fat  grubs,  and  can  be 
seen  industriously  following  the  plow  as  it  turns 
them  up  with  the  fresh,  loose  soil.  All  kinds  of 
domestic  fowls  eat  them  greedily,  while  hogs  in- 
dustriously search  for  them  by  rooting  over  the 
ground  where  they  occur  in  abundance.  Mice, 
shrews,  moles,  ground  squirrels,  and  skunks  are 
also  remarkably  fond  of  both  the  grubs  and 
beetles  Among  their  insect  enemies  the  wasp 
known  as  Tiphia  inornafa  Say,  is  the  greatest. 
This  insect  is  shown  in  it  several  stages  in  Fig. 
62.  The  larva  of  this  black  or  bluish-black  wasp 
attacks  and  destroys  the  grubs,  after  which  it 
spins  a  pale  brown  elongated  silken  cocoon  of  the 
kind  so  frequently  dug  up  when  working  the 
ground,  and  transforms  to  the  pupa  state,  and 
later  to  the  perfect  fly.  During  the  spring  of 
1889,  here  in  the  city  of  Lincoln,  these  May -beetles  were  at- 
tracted to  the  electric  lights  by  thousands,  as  were  also  two  large 


Fig.  G.3~-Wliite 
Grub  Fungus. 
[After  Riley.] 


260  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

black  ground  beetles,  Calosoma  externum  and  C.  lugubre,  iu 
moderate  numbers.  These  latter  beetles  would  pounce  upon  a 
May- beetle  as  it  lay  floundering  upon  the  walk  under  the  lights, 
as  a  cat  would  upon  a  mouse,  and  very  quickly  kill  and  partly 
devour  it. 

The  grubs  are  also  frequently  attacked  and  destroyed  by  a  pe- 
culiar whitish  fungus.  This  fungus  issues  near  the  head  of  the 
grubs  and  occasionally  attains  a  length  of  three  or  four  inches, 
when  it  has  near  the  appearance  of  the  accompanying  illustra- 
tion (Fig.  6B). 

Many  of  the  beetles  can  be  destroyed  by  jarring  the  trees  over 
sheets  and  gathering  them  as  they  fall,  after  which  they  can  be 
drowned  in  boiling  water  or  thrown  into  the  fire  and  burnt. 
Other  methods  can  be  devised  by  those  who  have  the  insects  to 
fight — circumstances,  of  course,  directing  these  forays  against 
the  enemy. 

THE  VAE^ING  ANOMALA. 

{Anomala  varians  Fabr.) 

A  beetle  belonging  in  the  same  family  with  the  May  or  June 
beetles,  but  a  much  smaller  insect,  has  been  reported  as  causing 
much  injury  to  wheat  in  parts  of  Kansas.  A  Mr.  Eugene  F. 
Barnes,  from  whom  specimens  of  this  insect  were  received  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  said  of  its  mode  of  at- 
tack that  the  insect  appeared  in  his  wheat  field  about  June  15th, 
1884,  but  on  inquiry  he  found  that  it  had  been  at  work  in  the 
neighborhood  for  nearly  two  weeks  previously,  destroying  some 
heads  of  wheat  and  leaving  others  amongst  them  uninjured. 
They  began  work  as  soon  as  the  wheat  was  in  the  dough. 

REMEDIES. 

Possibly  this  insect  may  never  become  a  serious  pest,  and  there- 
fore need  not  be  fought.  Should  it  continue  to  increase  and 
normally  become  a  wheat  pest,  by  studying  its  life-history  some 
remedy  may  be  suggested  by  which  it  can  be  kept  in  check. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


2Gi 


LEAF  BEETLES. 


{Chrysomelidce. ) 

Aside  from  the  few  "Flea  Beetles"  mentioned  below,  but  com- 
paratively few  species  of  the  large  family  of  "Leaf  Beetles" 
known  as  the  Ohrysomelidse  to  entomologists  have  been  found  to 
attack  small  grains.  Of  these  the  two  following  have  been  re- 
corded: 

The  Colorado  Potato  Beetle.  Doryphora  lO-lineata  Say., 
and 

POEIA  nigeocyanea  Cr. 

The  first  of  these  probably  only  accidental,  and  the  latter  not  in 
great  numbers.  Unless  we  find  them  of  more  importance  in  the 
future  than  they  have  been  in  the  past,  no  attention  need  be  given 
them  in  the  way  of  fighting  them  as  small  grain  pests. 

THE  TWELVE-SPOTTED  SQUASH  BEETLE. 

[Diabrotica  12-pundaiaO  liv. ) 


Fig.  64.— The  12-Spotted  Diabrotica.    [Insect  Life.] 
The  insect  that  is  herewith  figured  in  all  its  stages  of  growth 


262 


INSEC  r  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


(Fig.  64)  was  described  quite  fully  in  last  year's  report  as  a 
corn  insect.  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  state  that  it  also  is  to 
be  included  as  a  small  grain  enemy.  It  is  one  of  our  most  com- 
mon insects  in  all  parts  of  middle  and  eastern  United  States, 
where  it  makes  itself  known,  in  the  beetle  state  at  least,  as  an 
enemy  of  a  great  variety  of  plants. 

REMEDIES. 

On  account  of  its  great  range  in  food  plants,  and  its  being  a 
double-brooded  insect,  the  Twelve-spotted  Diabrotica  is  a  rather 
difficult  pest  to  handle.      (See  last  year's  Report.) 

FLEA  BEETLES. 

{Chcetomemis  and  PsylUodes.) 

The  insect  which  is  shown  in  the  ac- 
companying ilustration  (Fig.  65),  while 
not  on  record  as  an  enemy  to  the  small 
grains,  will  give  the  readers  of  this  re- 
port an  idea  of  the  appearance  of  several 
species  of  "Flea  Beetles"  that  have  been 
taken  while  doing  considerable  injury  to 
wheat.  Most  of  these  Flea  Beetles  are 
rather  fastidious  in  their  tastes  and  con- 
fine their  attention  to  one,  or  at  most,  but 
few  food-plants.  A  few  of  them  are, 
however,  less  particular  in  this  respect, 
and  will  eat  almost  anything.  Among  these 
latter  we  have 

Ch^tocnemis  confinis  Lee, 

Ch^etocnemis  pulcaeia  Mels,  and 

PSYLLIODES  INTERSTITIALIS  Cr., 

All  of  these  attack  the  grain  by  eating  the  leaves  full  of  small 
holes ;  and  when  very  numerous,  by  almost  completely  devouring 
them.  Of  course  the  result  is  injury  to  the  plants  thus  af- 
fected. 


Fig.  65.  ^  The  Pale 
Flea- beetle  (Sy  sie  n  a 
blanda.)    [Original.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


263 


Fig.  G6.  —  Tenebrio 
obscurus;  a,  larva;  b, 
pupa;  c,  beetle,  natu- 
ral size.  [After  Riley.] 


THE  EUROPEAN  MEAL  WORM. 

( Tenebrio  molitor  Linn. ) 

The  ordinary  meal  worm  is  too  well  known 
^^     t^  /£^  -■4,     ^°  require  a  lengthy  description  here.    Every 
sN^^y/i  j^©^     housekeeper  has  seen  both  the  parent  beetle 
^Br   fh    XE        ^^^  ^*^  larvfie.     Packard  states  of  this  insect 
/^K\A     ^g         in  his  Guide  to  the  Study  of  Insects:   ''Ten- 
/mH\         ^^         eb7-io  molUor  Linn.,  the  meal  worm,  is  found 
/(^  K        X*^        in  a^i  i*^s  stages  about  corn  and  rye  meal ;  it 
is  sometimes  swallowed  with  food.      *     *     * 
The  larva  is  about  an  inch  long,  cylindrical, 
smooth,'  and  glossy,  with  the  terminal  seg- 
ment semicircular,  slightly  serrated  on  the 
edges,  and  terminated  in  a  single  point."      These  beetles  also 
gather  in  large  numbers  in  granaries  and  corn  cribs,  where  they 
feed   upon   the   stored   grain ;   especially  are  they  to  be  found  in 
these  places  if  they  are  not  rain-tight  and  the  grain  becomes  wet 
and  rots.      This  species  is  also  the  most  characteristic  of  mill-in- 
festing insects  both  in  this  country  and  Europe. 

The  beetles  have  become  thoroughly  "domesticated"  and  are 
seldom  found  away  from  the  habitations  or  storehouses  of  man. 
They  are  nocturnal  and  move  about  after  nightfall,  when  they 
can  often  be  seen  flying  and  creeping  about  the  walls  of  build- 
ings which  they  enter  whenever  an  opportunity  is  presented. 
In  houses  they  soon  seek  out  the  pantry  and  attack  all  kinds  of 
flour  and  meal. 

The  American  Meal  Worm.  ( Tenebrio  obscurus  Fabr. ) 
Very  similar  to  the  above  is  a  second  species  of  meal  worm. 
This  latter,  a  native  of  America,  is  darker  colored  than  the 
European  insect  and  of  the  same  size.  Our  insect  is  less  numer- 
ous also  than  the  foreigner,  but  its  habits  are  the  same.  It  is 
shown  herewith  (Fig.  66)  in  its  different  stages  of  development. 

REMEDIES. 

Meal  worms  are  very  retiring  in  their  nature,  and  feed  and 
breed  only  in  dark  retreats  where  they  are  seldom  disturbed.     To 


264  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

l)ievent  their  increase  about  mills  and  such  other  places  where 
their  food  occurs,  these  should  be  kept  well  lighted  and  cleaned. 
No  heaps  of  rubbish  should  be  left  to  lie  about  under  which  the 
beetles  and  larvae  could  gather,  while  flour  and  meal  bins  should 
be  made  tight  and  kept  closed  during  night-time  when  the  insects 
are  moving  about. 

THE    FERRUGINEOUS    FLOUR-BEETLE. 

(Tribolium  Ferrugineum  Fabr.) 

The  little  beetle  that  is  illustrated  here- 
with (Fig.  67)  is  a  rather  common  pest 
about  gianaries  and  store  houses,  as  well  as 
in  dwellings.  It  frequents  meal  chests, 
flour  bins,  and  is  also  quite  a  general 
feeder,  occurring  as  a  museum  pest  in 
many  of  the  large  museums  of  the  country. 

In  speaking  of  these  insects  Dr.  J.  A.  Lint- 

FiG.  Ql.  —  Tribolmm  ^  /oi    -o      .    xt         t7     i     oi.  x     t^    ^ 

ferrugineum:  a, beetle;  ner  says  (2d  Kept.  JSfew  York  State  Ento- 

Lnonkr'Jaii^enlatS:  '"'"l^gi'''.  P-  l^^):  "They  ^.ere  quite  rapid 
[F,  Clements.]  in   their  movements,    and  could   hardly  be 

taken  from  the  flour,  from  the  facility  they  displayed  in  bury- 
ing themselves  and  eluding  capture.  The  beetles  were  far  more 
active  in  the  evening  by  gas-light,  when  they  would  come  to  the 
surface  of  the  flour  in  the  glass  vessel  in  which  they  were  con- 
fined, where  for  some  reason,  a  marked  tendency  was  shown  to 
collect  in  clusters,  clambering  over  the  backs  of  one  another  for 
the  purpose.  During  the  several  days  that  they  were  under  my 
observation,  not  a  single  individual  was  seen  to  take  wing  for 
flight,  or  to  climb  up  the  outwardly  sloping  side  of  the  glass 
vessel. " 

REMEDY. 

When  occurring  as  a  house  pest  this  insect  can  be  destroyed 
by  heat.  In  its  role  as  a  museum  pest  and  also  as  a  stored- 
grain  pest  it  can  be  destroyed  by  using  the  bisulphide  of  carbon. 

Philethus  bifasciatus. 

Another  of  these  flour  and  grain  pests  that  should  be  included 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  265 

here  is  the  small  beetle  known  as  Philethus  bifasciatns.  It  is 
almost  cosmopolitan  in  its  distribution,  and  if  allowed  to  increase 
unmolested  might  become  a  very  troublesome  pest. 

SiTODREPA  PANICEA  (Linn.) 
•  Another  of  the  cosmopolitan,  omnivorous  beetles  that  fre- 
quently makes  attacks  upon  grain  and  grain  products  is  known 
by  the  above  name.  It  is  less  than  one-tenth  of  an  inch  in 
length,  rather  robust  and  of  a  dark-brownish  color,  with  short 
antonnfe. 
.     Gnathoceeus  coenutus,  Fabr.  and 

Paloeus  depressus,  Fabr.  are  both  insects  of  like  nature  with 
the  above,  that  can  be  destroyed  by  artificial  heat  or  by  the  use 
of  fumes  of  bisulphide  of  carbon. 

THE  OAT  WEEVIL. 

{^Maycrops  po7'cellus  Say.) 

"  A  white,  legless  maggot,  burrowing  in  the  bases  of  the 
stems  of  oats,  leaving  the  plant  when  full  grown  and  penetrating 
into  the  ground  a  short  distance  to  pupate,  emerging  three 
weeks  later  as  a  small,  brown  weevil  with  mottled  wing  covers." 

In  writing  about  the  attack  of  this  insect  Mr,  James  Fletcher, 
the  Dominion  Entomologist,  says  in  his  report  for  1891:  "In 
walking  through  an  oat  field  on  the  10th  of  July  I  noticed  that 
several  of  the  stems  had  a  faded  and  yellow  central  leaf,  an 
attack  similar  to  that  of  Merornyza  americana  upon  manj^  grasses. 
This  latter  insect  is  reported  by  Prof.  Cook  as  injuring  oats 
severely  in  the  state  of  Michigan,  so  I  was  very  curious  to  see  if 
I  had  at  last  found  it  here,  where,  although  it  is  a  very  active 
enemy  of  grasses,  barley,  wheat,  and  rye,  I  had  never  found  it 
in  oats.  Upon  taking  up  some  of  these  stems  I  was  much  in- 
terested in  finding  an  attack  quite  unknown  to  me.  The  base  of 
the  stem  had  been  entirely  eaten  out  by  a  footless,  yellowish- 
white  grub,  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  length,  with  a  chest  nut- 
brown  head  and  the  posterior  end  of  the  body  becoming  rapidly 
smaller  at  the  last  two  rings.  On  taking  the  grub  from  the  oat 
stem  it  progressed   quickly  across  a   table,  working  itself  along 


266 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


by  moving  the  rings  of  its  body  like  a  dipterous  larva  and  at 
the  same  time  making  use  of  its  slightly  extensile  tail  to  push 
itself  along." 

Mr.  Fletcher  does  not  consider  the  insect  to  be  one  that  will 
ever  become  a  destructive  grain  pest,  as  it  seems  to  prefer -to 
work  upon  the  grass  Panicum  criis-galli  instead. 


THE  GEAIN  WEEVILS. 

{Cdlcmdra  granaria  Linn,  and  others.) 

This  is  the  true  grain  weevil, 
concerning  which  so  much  has 
been  written,  both  in  this  and  Eu- 
ropean countries.  It  is  a  blackish 
snout- beetle  very  similar  in  form 
to  the  difPerent  species  of  "bill- 
bugs"  described  or  mentioned  in 
my  paper  on  "  Corn  Insects,"  but 
much  smaller — being  about  one- 
fifth  of  an  inch  in  length.  It  is  well 
illustrated  in  the  accom[)anying 
illustration  (Fig.  68)  at  e,  en- 
larged and  natural  size.  In  this' 
country  the  insect  is  less  common  than  in  Europe,  and  occurs 
chiefly  in  old  granaries  and  corn  cril)S,  where  it  feeds  upon  the 
stored  grain.  It  attacks  both  corn  and  wheat,  as  well  as  some  of 
the  other  grains.  The  mature  beetles,  as  well  as  the  larvae,  feed 
upon  the  grain.  As  a  remedy,  the  use  of  bisulphide  of  carbon, 
as  directed  under  several  others  of  the  species  that  attack  stored 
grain,  will  be  found  very  efficient. 

The  Kice  Weevil.  ( Calandra  oryzce  Linn. ) 
The  insect  which  bears  the  name  of  "  Eice  Weevil,"  is  natur- 
ally an  enemy  of  that  grain,  but  also  attacks  grains  of  various 
kinds.  It  is  distinguishable  from  the  granaria  in  having  two 
large  red  spots  on  each  elytron  or  wing  cover.  It  is  shown  in 
the  figure  at  c. 


Fig.  GH.  — Calandra  oryzce:  a 
larva;  h,  pupa;  c,  Calandra  gran 
aria  —  all  enlarged.  [After  Pack 
arc!.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SM  A-LL  GRAINS.  2G7 

The  Remote  Punctured  Grain  Weevil.  [Calandra  remote- 
pimcfta  Gyll.) 

Still  a  third  species  of  these  grain  weevils  is  occasionally  to  be 
met  with  in  stored  grain  in  this  country.  Its  ti'uo  home,  how- 
ever, appears  to  be  farther  south,  or  within  the  tropics,  where  it 
is  very  numerous  and  troublesome. 

THE  SMALL  BILL-BUG. 

[Sphenopliorus  parvidus  Gyll.) 

In  my  report  to  the  Board  last  year  I  spoke  of  this  and  sev- 
eral other  species  of  the  same  genus  under  the  general  title  of 
"Corn  Bill-Bugs."     Although   but  a  single  one  of  the  species 


Fig.  QQ.—Sphenoplwrus  parvu-  Fig.  70. — Sphenopliomis 

his;  enlarged.    [H.  G.  Barber.]  ochreus:   larva,     [insect 

Life.] 

there  mentioned  has  thus  far  been  found  to  attack  the  small  grains, 

it  is  a  well  known  fact  that   nearly  if  not  quite  all  of  them  are 

grass  enemies. 

Professor  Forbes  writes  of  the  injuries  to  these  "Bill-Bugs" 

as  follows:*  "As  larvae  these  species  live   and  feed,   as  far  as 

known,  in  the  roots  of  grass-like  plants,  less  commonly  boring 

also  the  lower  part  of  the  stem.       Grasses  with  bulbous   roots, 

like  timothy  and  the  club  rush,  are  probably  their  more  normal 

breeding  plants.      In  timothy  meadows  the  hollowing  out  of  the 

root  bulb  frequently  kills  the   plant — if  not  outright,  then  the 

•Sixteenth  Rep t.  Ills.  State  Entoniolo«isit,  p.  CU. 


268  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

following  year.  The  larger  club  rush  seems  to  endure  better 
the  attack  of  the  clay-colored  Bill-Bug,  as  several  successive 
bulbs  of  a  series  are  often  found  excavated,  each  having  given 
origin  to  its  plant  notwithstanding  the  injury. 

"  The  adults  of  all  the  species  feed  in  substantially  the  same 
manner,  as  far  as  observed,  and  inflict  a  similar  injury  on  the 
plants  they  infest.  Standing  with  the  head  downward  aud  the 
feet  embracing  the  lower  part  of  the  stalk,  they  slowly  sink  the 
beak  into  the  plant,  using  the  jaws  to  make  the  necessary  perfo- 
ration. At  intervals  the  head  is  slowly  and  regularly  rolled 
from  side  to  side  as  if  to  pry  apart  the  several  tissues,  and  when 
the  soft  interior  substance  of  the  plant  is  penetrated,  a  pause  is 
made  to  enable  the  in'feect  to  devour  the  part  thus  brought  within 
reach  of  its  jaws.  By  moving  forward  and  backward  and  twist- 
ing to  the  right  and  left,  the  beetle  will  often  hollow  out  a  cavity 
beneath  the  surface  much  larger  than  the  superficial  injury  would 
indicate.  Ochi-eus  (and  possibly  several  other  species  also) 
elongates  the  original  slit  by  pulling  the  head  strongly  backward 
with  the  compressed  beak  inserted,  thus  using  the  latter  to  split 
the  stem  as  a  boy  uses  his  knife  to  split  a  stick.  In  this  way  a 
slit  an  inch  long  may  be  made  in  the  stalk  of  corn  or  head  of 
cane  beneath  which  the  softer  parts  will  be  completely  eaten  out. 
Our  imprisoned  beetles,  confined  with  rapidly  growing  corn,  left 
the  lower  part  of  the  stalk  as  it  hardened  and  fed  at  the  tip  of 
the  plant,  or  searching  out  the  forming  ears,  penetrated  the  husk 
and  gouged  out  the  substance  of  the  soft  cob.  The  intestines  of 
these  beetles  were  well  filled  with  the  solid  tissue  of  the  plant, 
but  I  saw  no  evidence  that  they  sucked  the  sap,  although  it  is 
not,  perhaps,  impossible." 

The  species  figured  herewith  (Fig.  68)  is  a  very  common  blue- 
grass  enemy  here  in  the  west,  and  needs  to  bo  combated  more 
as  an  enemy  of  this  grass  than  as  a  wheat  pest.  The  larva  of 
still  another  species  is  shown  in  Fig.  70. 

REMEDIES. 

No  remedy  can  be  given  with  our  present  knowledge  of  this 
insect  that  is  at  all  satisfactory. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  2G9 

STOEED    GEAIN    EHYNCOPHOEID 

{Brachytarsus  variegatus,  Say.) 

The  insect  which  bears  the  above  scientific  name  has  been  taken 
in  the  act  of  feeding  upon  stored  grain  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  must,  therefore,  be  mentioned,  at  least,  in  this  connection. 
It  is  one  of  the  snout-beetles,  is  scarcely  more  than  one-tenth  of 
an  inch  in  length,  of  a  dull  ochreous  color,  varied  with  blackish. 
Its  occurrence  in  grain  and  the  injury  done  in  this  instance  may 
have  been  accidental,  as  other  species  of  the  genus  BracJiytarsns 
are  known  to  feed  upon  scale  insects. 

Should  the  beetle  be  found  to  habitually  attack  grain  in  the 
future,  it  could  be  destroyed  by  the  use  of  bisulphide  of  carbon 
as  directed  in  cases  of  injury  by  several  other  insects  that  infest 
stored  grain.  A  very  good  way  to  apply  this  remedy  is  to  take  a 
piece  of  gas-pipe  or  other  tube  of  sufficient  length  to  reach  the 
bottom  of  the  bin  containing  the  infested  grain.  Choose  a  stick 
of  the  proper  size  to  fill  the  hollow,  and  with  this  in  the  pipe 
work  the  latter  into  the  grain.  Now  draw  out  the  stick  and  pour 
the  bisulphide  of  carbon  into  the  gas-pipe.  In  this  manner  you 
will  reach  the  bottom  and  the  fumes  will  kill  all  animal  life  in 
the  bin.  If  the  grain  is  covered  with  some  heavy  cloth  so  as  to 
prevent  the  fumes  from  escaping  the  effect  will  be  more  perfect. 
After  one  or  two  hours  the  cover  can  be  removed  and  the  gran- 
ary thrown  open  to  air.  Be  very  careful  about  fires  of  all  kinds 
while  using  this  remedy,  as  the  fumes  of  the  bisulphide  of  car- 
bon are  very  inflammable. 

CHINCH    BUG. 

{Blissus  cuco2)terus,  Say.) 

Although  this  insect  was  discussed  at  length  in  my  last  year's 
report  to  the  State  Board,  it  is  of  sufficient  importance  to  be 
mentioned  again.  Especially  is  this  true  in  a  report  embracing 
the  insect  pests  of  small  grains — the  principal  food  of  the  insect. 

The  Chinch-bug,  which  has  become  one  of  our  most  destruc- 
tive insect  pests   in   the  United   States,  was  first   noticed  in  the 


270 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


state  of  North  Carolina,  where,  like  all  of  our  injurious  insects, 
it  acquired  its  taste  for  cultivated  crops,  and  began  its  attack 
upon  these  plants  in  preference  to  those  grooving  wild,  and  upon 
which  it  had  probably  fed  from  time  very  remote.  These  new 
food  plants  being  always  at  hand  during  the  season  when  the 
bug  lays  its  eggs  and  the  young  are  growing  and  occurring  in 
vastly  greater  quantity,  of  course  gave  the  insect  advantages  for 
rapid  increase.  The  loose  soil  about  the  roots  of  these  culti- 
vated plants,  too,  more  nearly  met  the  requirements  necessary 
for  the  work  of  the  young  than  was  to  be  found  upon  unculti- 
vated grounds. 

The  Chinch-bug  was  first  scientifically  described  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Say,  in  the  year  1831,  from  a  single  specimen  captured 
in  eastern  Virginia.  He  called  it  Lygceus  leiicopferiis.  Soon 
after  this,  and  within  a  few  years,  its  range  in  injurious  numbers 
began  to  Aviden,  it  having  made  its  appearance  in  grain  fields  in 
different  localities  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains. 

From  the  year  1839  forward,  its  spread  in  the  middle  and 
western  states  has  been  quite  regularly  noted,  until  now  it  is 
known  to  occur  very  nearly  from  ocean  to  ocean.     It  is  more  of 


Fig.  72.  — Chinch- 
bug.  (Blissus  leucop- 
terus):  imago.  [Aftex* 
Riley.] 


Fig.  73.  —  Chinch-bug:  a,  &,  eggs;  c,  larva 
just  hatched;  e,  and  /,  same,  more  advanced; 
gr,  pupa;  h,  d,  and  J,  legs  of  bug — all  enlarged. 
[After  Riley.] 


a  southern  insect  than  a  northern  one,  although  it  is  often  met 
with  north  of  our  boundary  line  in  Canadian  territory.  While 
it  has  been  seen  and  is  now  known  to  be  a  regular  resident  along 
our  northern  border,  its  depredations  have  thus  far  been  confined 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GliAINS.  271 

chiefly  south  of  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  latitude.  lu  spoakiug 
of  the  geographical  distribution  of  this  insect,  Mr.  Howard 
says:*  "East  of  the  Rocky  mountains  the  Chinch-bug  seems  to 
be  indigenous,  north  and  south,  feeding  naturally  upon  various 
species  of  wild  grasses,  and  becoming  multiplied  wherever  the 
cultivation  of  wheat  has  reached  its  original  haunts."  In  the 
Rocky  mountain  region,  and  over  the  great  interior  basin,  its 
jn-esence  does  not  appear  to  have  been  noted  and  recorded;  but 
that  it  occurs  on  the  Pacific  slop-^,  in  the  state  of  California,  is 
now  a  well  settled  fact.  It  has  been  reported  from  Texas,  Mexico, 
and  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

LIFE-HISTOEY    AND    HABITS. 

The  Chinch-bug  hibernates  in  the  mature  or  perfect  state, 
(ucked  away  in  various  nooks  and  crannies  and  underneath  all 
sorts  of  vegetable  debris  as  well  as  other  things  that  offer  retreats 
from  the  cold  and  snows  of  winter.  When  the  warm  days  of 
spring  appear,  such  of  the  bugs  as  have  "pulled  through"  the 
long,  cold  winter,  issue  from  their  retreats  and  begin  preparations 
for  the  summer's  campaign.  The  mature  insects  are  to  be  seen 
flying  about  during  both  spring  and  late  fall  on  bright  sunshiny 
days — in  fall  to  seek  shelter  and  in  spring  to  seek  suitable 
grounds  for  egg-laying.  They  also  fly  during  the  latter  part  of 
July  and  early  August,  when  preparing  for  the  second  brood  of 
young.  The  ;nating  of  the  second  or  last  brood  sometimes  oc- 
curs in  fall,  especially  if  the  weather  is  pleasant;  but  usually 
takes  place  when  the  winter  quarters  are  being  forsaken.  The 
eggs  are  then  usually  laid  upon  the  rogts  of  the  plants  chosen  by 
the  parent  bug  to  be  the  food  of  the  young,  though  sometimes 
upon  the  stalks  of  these  just  above  ground.  The  average  num- 
ber of  eggs  laid  by  each  female  has  been  estimated  at  about  500. 
These  are  not  all  deposited  at  once,  but  are  laid  from  time  to 
time,  during  parts  of  May  and  June.  Hence  the  reason  for  find- 
ing young  of  all  sizes  at  the  same  time.  The  time  required  for 
the  full  development  of  the  winged  insect  from  the  egg  as  laid  is 
close  to  sixty  days.      This  being  the  case,  of  course  those  bugs 

•Bulletin  No.  17  of  the  United  States  Dept.  Agri.,  Diy.  Ent, 


272 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


hatched  from  the  first  eggs  will  be  the  first  to  mature.  When 
the  grain  has  ripened  and  no  longer  affords  food  for  the  insects, 
they  must  necessarily  seek  it  elsewhere;  they  must  therefore 
migrate.  These  movements  are  made  on  foot,  and  by  all,  larvse, 
papse,  and  imagoes,  until  they  find  some  plant  upon  which  to  feed. 
This  new  food-plant  usually  proves  to  be  corn,  foxtail,  Hungarian, 
or  millet,  though  frequently  various  of  the  native  or  prairie 
grasses,  sorghum,  or  broom-corn  are  the  plants  attacked.  Even 
the  weeds  of  fields  are  occasionally  resorted  to  by  them,  as  I 
have  myself  observed  in  this  state,  and  have  been  told  by  others 
wild  buckwheat  being  one  of  these.  Upon  these  grasses  and 
corn  the  eggs  for  the  second  brood  are  deposited — usually  tucked 
in  between  the  sheath  and  stalk. 

FALSE    OE    BOGUS    CHINCH-BUGS. 

While  this  insect  is  only  too  common,  and  occurs  generally 
throughout  the  regions  mentioned,  it  not  unfrequently  happens 
that  several  other  insects  are  sometimes  mistaken  for  it,  and  un- 
necessary alarm  caused.  The  first  of  these  which  I  will  men- 
tion is  the  False  Chinch-bug  {Nysius  angustatus  Uhl.),  which 


Fig.  71— False  Chinch- 
'  bug  {Nysius  angusta- 
tus):  mature    insect, 
enl'r'd.  [After  Riley.] 


Fio.  75. — Piesma  cin- 
erea :  greatly  en- 
larged. [After  Ri- 
ley.] 


Fig.  76.  —  Negro  -  bug 
(Corimelcena  pulic- 
aria):  mature  insect, 
enlarged.  [After  Ri- 
ley.] 


is  shown  in  Fig.  74.  Like  the  true  Chinch-bug,  it  is  widely 
distributed  over  the  country,  and  sometimes  does  considerable  in- 
jury to  grape  vines,  strawberries,  potatoes,  young  apple  grafts, 
and  all  cruciferous  plants.     It  is  exceedingly  fond  of    purslane 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  273 

weed,  and  also  occurs  plentifully  upon  various  species  of  smart- 
weed.  This  bug  also  becomes  quite  numerous  during  certain 
years.  Another  of  these  false  Chinch- bugs,  which  is  also  very 
widely  spread,  is  the  Ash-gray  Leaf -bug  (Piesma  cinerea  Say), 
which  usually  occurs  upon  the  foliage  of  trees.  Sometimes  in 
spring  it  has  been  known  to  injure  the  blossoms  of  the  grape.  1 
have  very  frequently  seen  it  upon  the  "  tumble  weeds"  [Amaran- 
tus)  in  numbers  sufficiently  great  to  cover  them  from  top  to 
bottom.  The  Insidious  Flower-bug  (^Thriphleps  insidiosus  Say) 
is  another  of  the  bugs  frequently  mistaken  for  the  "  true  and 
only  one."  This  particular  insect,  however,  must  be  placed 
among  our  friends,  as  it  is  one  of  the  few  insects  that  destroys 
the  species  for  which  it  is  sometimes  mistaken.  A  fourth  one  of 
these  bugs  that  is  a  cause  of  "mistaken  identity"  is  the  Flea- 
like Negro-bug  ( Corimelcena  pulicaria  Germ. ) ,  of  which  Mr. 
Howard  writes  as  follows:* 

"  Its  appearance  is  more  different  from  the  Chinch-bug  than 
any  of  the  insects  mentioned  under  this  head,  and  is  plainly 
shown  by  the  figure.  It  feeds  abundantly  upon  the  fruit  of  the 
raspberry,  and  punctures  also  the  stems  of  the  strawberry,  and 
the  blossoms,  leaves,  and  fruit  stems  of  the  cherry  and  quince 
It  is  also  injurious  to  certain  garden  flowers  and  to  certain  weeds. 
*     *  "     This  latter  species  is  well  represented  in  Fig.  76. 

ENEMIES    OF    THE    CHINCH-BUG. 

The  Cinch-bug  appears  to  bo  one  of  the  few  of  our  insect  pests 
that  is  comparatively  free  from  the  attacks  of  insects  and  other 
natural  enemies.  Among  the  species  of  predaceous  insects 
known  to  feed  upon  insect  life,  only  four  of  the  lady  bugs,  one 
neuropterous,  a  single  beetle,  and  several  hemiptera,  have  been 
known  to  destroy  it.  Among  the  birds  the  quail  stands  at  the 
head;  while  a  few  other  birds  follow  closely.  A  few  of  the  rep- 
tiles, as  toads  and  frogs,  also  feed  upon  it,  though  rather 
sparingly. 

Among  the  parasitic  fungi  there  are  at  least  two  species  known 
to  attack  the  insect  now  under  consideration.       One  of  them  is 

•  Bulletin  U.  S.  Division  Entomology,  No.  17,  p.  13. 


274:  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

very  similar  to  that  which  is  known  to  attack  the  silk  worm.  It 
is  called  the  Micrococcus  insectoriim,  and  infests  the  alimentary 
canal.  A  second  of  these  is  the  one  figured  herewith  (Fig.  77), 
where  a  Chinch-bug  is  shown  as  he  appears  after  having  suc- 
cumbed to  this  fungus  [Sporotrichum  globuUferumY 

Professor  Otto  Lugger,  entomologist  and  botanist  for  the  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station  of  Minnesota,  in  giving  his  experi- 
ence with  this  fungus  upon  the  Chinch- bug,  writes  as  follows:* 

"The  warm  weather  continued,  and  the  first  generation  of 
Chinch-bugs  became  quite  numerous  and  destructive,  and  the 
second  brood  threatened  a  repetition  of  last  year's  disasters. 
Oats,  rye,  wheat,  and  some  grasses  were  utterly  destroyed  by 
them,  and  the  young  and  promising  corn  formed  now  a  standing 
invitation  to  the  hungry  hordes.  To  prevent  their  inroads,  all 
the  infested  fields  and  experimental  plats  were  surrounded  by  a 
low  board  fence,  six  inches  high,  and  snugly  fitting  to  the  ground 
BO  as  to  prevent  insects  from  crossing  under  this  fence.  The 
upper  edges  of  the  boards  were  painted  from  time  to  time  with 
tar,  which  prevented  the  bugs  from  crossing.  The  insects  were 
at  this  time  of  all  sizes  and  ages.  Adults  of  the  first  brood, 
eggs,  young  hatched  bugs,  and  pupae  of  the  second  brood,  were 
all  mixed  together,  and  all  were  decidedly  hungry,  as  their  in- 
tense activity  and  the  swarming  armies  of  famishing  bugs  plainly ' 
indicated.  To  gather  in  this  crop  of  bugs,  round  holes  about  six 
inches  in  diameter  were  drilled  in  the  ground  close  to  the  fence, 
and  as  one  hole  became  filled  with  insects  it  was  closed  and  an- 
other one  was  opened  close  by,  for  the  reception  of  more  victims. 
So  matters  worked  to  our  satisfaction,  when  an  unexpected  assist- 
ant came  to  help  us,  making  the  structure  of  more  fences  unnec- 
essary. The  above-mentioned  holes  wore  qidte  deep,  and  con- 
sequently were  always  wet,  a  condition  of  things  not  at  all  suit- 
able to  starving  Chinch-bugs,  and  they  soon  became  unhealthy 
and  weak,  thus  presenting  the  best  condition  for  any  disease  to 
claim  them  as  its  victims.  And  such  a  disease,  produced  by  a 
fungus,  was  not  slow  in  making  its  appearance,  as  could  be  seen 

*  Bulletin  No.  4,  Miuuesota  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  275 

by  the  numerous   dead  bugs.      The  margins  of  all  the  holes,  but 
chiefly  those  more   densely  crowded  with   captives,  soon  became 
whitened  with  dead  bugs,  enshrouded  in  white  mj/celial  threads 
and  dust-like  spores.       In  fact,  in  a  few  days  the   upper  rims  of 
these  holes  looked  as  if  recently  whitewashed.     Nor  did  the  dis- 
ease stop  there.       On  the  contrary,  it  spread  very  rapidly  to  ad- 
joining fields  of  timothy,  Hungarian  grass,  millet,  etc.   Even  the 
course  followed  by  it  from  the  holes  could  be  readily  recognized 
for  some  time  by  the  more  or  less  numerous  white  spots  left  in 
its  wake.     The  fields  invaded  by  the  disease  afforded,  upon  closer 
examination,  a  truly  edifying  spectacle  to  those  not  interested  in 
the    welfare    of    the    Chinch-bugs.       They    looked    quite   panic 
stricken,  and  moved  about  in  a  slow  and  dazed  way,  figuratively 
speaking,  as   if  badly  scared.     And   well   they  might  be !     The 
victims  of  the  disease   could   be   seen   everywhere  by  the  thou- 
sands.    They  had  been   slaughtered   in   all   kinds   of  positions; 
but  they  were  usually  fastened  to   the  blades   and  stems  of  the 
grass,  or  to  the  leaves  of  the  young  clover.      All  showed  plainly 
that  their  last  and  strong  determination  in  life  had  been  to  hold 
on  as  long  as  possible.   Their  legs  were  firmly  planted   upon   the 
substances  where  the  bug  happened  to  be;  others  had  only  their 
beaks  inserted,  and  were  dangling  by  them  free  in  the  air.      But 
all   showed    the  characteristic   white  mycelium   threads   issuing 
from   the  spores  of  the   disease.       The   illustration   in   Fig.  77 
shows  an  enlarged   Chich-bug,  with  white  threads   issuing  from 
its  body,  aiid  numerous  other  specimens  of  natural  size  killed  by 
the    fungus.       Although    almost    exclusively  attacking   Chinch- 
bugs,  the  disease  was  not  slow  in  slaughtering  such   small   flies 
as  found  the  society   of    such   malodorous   companions   to   their 
taste.      A  story  with  a  moral !     *     *     * 

"Most,  if  not  all,  the  Chinch-bugs  would  have  been  killed  at 
the  experiment  station,  if  the  suitable  conditions  for  this  disease 
had  lasted  a  few  days  longer.  But  the  wet  spell,  prevailing  part 
of  the  time  the  disease  was  playing  such  havoc  among  the  bugs, 
soon  passed,  and  was  followed  by  warm  and  very  dry  days,  which 
soon  stopped  any  further  spread  of  the   disease.      But   by   arti- 


276  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

ficially  producing  such  conditions,  the  disease  was  kept  at  work 
for  some  time,  but  only  on  a  very  limited  scale.  Nor  could  it  be 
spread,  because  in  nature  such  artificial  conditions  could  neither 
be  produced  nor  maintained  on  any  extensive  scale, 

"As  many  parts  of  the  southern  portion  of  this  state  were 
overrun  with  Chinch -bugs,  I  thought  that  a  good  opportunity 
and  an  inviting  field  was  presented 
to  purposely  spread  a  disease — an 
act  not  usually  considered  a  very 
kind  one  to  engage  in,  and  one  not 
to  be  recommended  to  physicians. 
This  was  exceedingly  simple,  as  all 
that  was  necessary  was  to  gather  a 
number  of  the  diseased  bugs,  put 
them  into  tight-fitting  tin  boxes,  and 
mail  them  to  regions  infested  by 
Chinch-bugs.  Arrived  at  their  des- 
tination, the  contents  of  the  boxes 
could  simply  be  thrown  into  any  field 
known  to  be  infested  by  such  bugs. 

This  was  done    with    specimens    of 
Pig.  77.— Chinch-bug,   show-  ,,        ..  ,    ,  n     i.    i       i.    ii, 

ing  the  insect  as  it  appeared  the   diseased    bugs  collected    at    tne 

SLfelrgtdt'd'nTuSE.perimex>t  Station,  and  eighteen 
size.    [After  Lugger.]  different  places  in   southern  Minne- 

sota were  thus  made  centers  of  distribution  for  this  disease,  and, 
as  it  seems,  with  remarkably  good  results,  as  the  disease  has 
killed  off  the  bugs  to  such  an  extent  that  careful  search  in  a  ma- 
jority of  places  failed  to  produce  a  single  living  specimen,  whilst 
the  traces  of  the  disease  were  found  everywhere.  The  disease 
spread  so  rapidly  that  even  corn  fields  growing  near  wheat  fields 
crowded  with  Chinch -bugs  were  entirely  protected,  and  no  bugs 
had  entered  them  in  all  the  places  visited  by  myself." 

Professor  Snow,  of  the  State  University  of  Kansas,  has  been 
very  successful  in  killing  off  the  Chinch- bug  by  means  of  these 
diseases  which  he  succeeds  in  spreading  over  the  country  in  in- 
fested regions.      A  number  of  reports  that  have  been  printed  in 


INSEC  r  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  277 

the  various  agricultural  and  other  journals  of  the  country  will 
show  how  entirely  successful  his  remedy  has  proved.  A  short 
extract  from  his  first  annual  report  on  contagious  diseases  of  the 
Chinch-bug  *  will  give  the  reader  of  the  present  paper  in  brief 
the  results  of  Professor  Snow's  experiments. 

"the    white-fungus    DISEASE. 

'*  [Sporotrichum  globuliferum). 

"  During  the  earlier  part  of  the  season,  especially  during  the 
wet  period,  the  larger  percentage  of  the  reports  observed  were 
obtained  by  the  use  of  white-fungus  infection.  This,  no  doubt, 
is  due  to  the  conditions  having  been  more  favorable  to  this  in- 
fection. 

"  As  to  the  behavior  of  the  infected  bugs  in  the  field,  the  fol- 
lowing notes  have  been  taken : 

"(1)  The  disease  begins  to  show  that  it  has  been  communi- 
cated from  the  second  to  the  fourth  day  after  infection  has  been 
placed  in  the  field. 

"  (2)  The  live  bugs,  leaving  their  food  plant,  show  signs  of  un- 
easiness by  moving  rapidly  and  aimless  y  about  from  spot  to 
spot. 

"  (3)  In  the  course  of  another  day,  the  bugs  become  sluggish 
and  seek  protection  from  the  sun's  light  and  heat.  The  favorite 
place  of  shelter  is  beneath  clods  and  corn  stalks,  or  within  some 
moist  and  shaded  spot. 

"  (4)  From  the  sixth  to  the  eighth  day,  the  first  dead  bugs  are 
found,  enveloped  with  fungus,  looking  when  first  dead,  as  some 
have  put  it,  'like  little  wads  of  cotton.'  From  the  time  the  bugs 
first  become  sick,  they  cease  to  sap  the  growing  stalk.  Thus  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  ingress  of  the  pest  into  the  field  may  be 
quickly  checked,  if  the  experiment  is  properly  attended  to. 

"In  some  fields,  the  bugs  have  been  reported  dead  in  bunches. 
Of  the  fields  visited,  no  large  bunches  of  white-fungus  bugs  have 
been  found.  In  the  corn  field  of  Frank  Shannon,  at  Augusta, 
Butler  county,  small  bunches  of   dead  bugs,  perhaps  a  teaspoon- 

•  The  University  of  Kansas  Experiment  Station,  First  Annual  Report  of  the  Director,  for 
the  year  1891,  Contagious  Uiseases  of  the  Chinch-bug,  pp.  31-33. 


278  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

ful  in  a  bunch,  were  seen;  but  here  it  was  observed  that  the 
bunched  dead  bugs  were  always  found  beneath  a  bunch  of  grass, 
where  it  was  moist,  or  under  a  clod.  In  the  oat  field  of  John 
KiDsey,  at  Douglas,  Butler  county,  the  crop  had  lodged,  shad- 
ing the  ground,  which  was  necessarily  moist.  While  the  dead, 
fungus-covered  bugs  were  present  in  countless  numbers,  no 
bunches  were  found.      Each  bug  had  died  by  himself. 

"  Under  favorable  conditions,  it  has  been  observed  that  the 
white- fungus  infection  spreads  with  considerable  rapidity.  Near 
Herington  and  Solomon  City,  Dickerson  county,  there  are  dis- 
tricts over  which  the  disease  became  almost  an  epidemic.  It  is 
a  fortunate  fact  that  the  more  numerously  live  bugs  are  present 
in  a  field,  the  more  rapidly  the  disease  is  communicated  and  the 
more  malignant  it  becomes.  In  the  wheat  field  of  Noyes  Barber, 
at  Howard,  Elk  county,  although  a  few  dead  bugs  were  placed 
along  the  extreme  south  line,  the  disease  spread  of  its  own  ac- 
cord a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  a  little  more  than  one  week,  killiog 
the  bugs  before  it  as  it  went.  So  effective,  also,  was  the  same 
disease  when  placed  in  his  corn  field,  that  the  ravages  of  the  bugs 
were  abruptly  ended  on  the  fourth  day,  when  the  whole  brood 
was  found  upon  the  ground.  Despite  the  fact  that  thirty  or 
forty  rows  of  corn  had  been  visibly  damaged  before  the  infection 
was  introduced,  so  that  the  blades  were  yellow,  the  hills  'braced 
up '  and  produced  a  good  crop. 

"  THE    BACTERIAL    DISEASE. 

" (^Micrococcus  insecioriim.^ 

"While  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  season  the  larger  per- 
centage of  successful  experiments  observed  were  due  to  Sporoiri- 
chum,  on  the  other  hand  during  the  latter  part  of  the  season  the 
larger  percentage  was  due  to  bacterial  infection. 

"Fortunately  conditions  unfavorable  to  the  propagation  of 
Sporotric/ium  are  favorable  to  successful  results  with  Micrococcus. 
The  bacterial  infection  raged  more  strongly  during  the  hot,  dry 
weather,  at  the  time  when  chinch -bugs  o[)erate  most  destructively- 
This  infection  is  generally  reported,  by  those  seen  by  me,  to  have 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  270 

spread  under  favoring  circumstances  even  more  rapidly  and  with 
greater  destructiveness  than  does  Sporoti'ichum  when  at  its  best. 
The  abdomens  of  bugs  sick  with  this  disease  appear  greatly  dis- 
tended. It  is  this  disease  which  caues  the  bugs  to  bunch.  These 
bunches  vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  walnut  to  a  teacupful,  and, 
according  to  some  few  reports,  still  greater.  However,  it  has 
never  been  my  good  fortune  to  see  more  than  a  teacupful  of  dead 
bugs  and  shells  in  a  single  heap.  While  the  bugs  were  bunch- 
ing in  fields  where  infection  had  been  placed,  they  did  not  bunch 
in  uninfected  fields.  This  fact  was  established  by  repeated  ex- 
aminations. In  the  fields  of  Thomas  Nichol  and  of  Samuel  Gar- 
ver,  both  of  Abilene,  Dickinson  county,  the  extermination  was 
complete,  the  piles  of  dead  bugs  and  shells  of  dead  bugs  being 
distributed  throughout  their  fields.  The  shells  have  belonged  to 
bugs  of  all  sizes  and  ages.  Bugs  and  shells  were  taken  by  the 
bunch  from  the  wheat  fields  of  Hon.  S.  C.  Wheeler,  of  Concorditi, 
Cloud  county,  by  Chris.  Nelson  of  the  same  place,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  infecting  his  field,  three  miles  distant,  and  a  most  satis- 
factory report  was  obtained." 

THE  GRAY-FUNGUS  DISEASE. 

•       [Empusa  aphidis.) 

"Previous  to  June  10th  Empusa  had  not  been  found  in  the 
fields  visited.  However,  on  the  date  mentioned,  a  considerable 
number  of  E'mpwsa-covered  bugs  were  collected  and  sent  to  the 
station  from  the  wheat  field  of  Hon.  Jacob  Nixon,  at  Kellogg, 
Cowley  county.  No  white  fungus-covered  bugs  were  seen  in  this 
field.  Whether  a  part  of  the  bugs  had  been  destroyed  by  8po- 
rotrichum  or  bacteria,  it  is  impossible  to  say,  since  no  correct 
memoranda  had  been  kept,  and  the  bugs  had  evidently  been  dead 
S3veral  days. 

"The  weather  for  a  few  days  previous  to  the  extermination  o^ 
the  bugs  had  been  favorable  to  successful  work  with  Sporotri- 
chum. 

"In  all  other  fields  in  which  Empusa  has  been  seen,  it  has 
appeared   along   with  white   fungus  and   bacteria.      When    thus 


280  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

found,  about  every  tenth  bug  was  covered  with  the  Empusa 
'mould.'  Such  bugs  are  easily  detected  in  the  field,  from  the 
fact  that  they  are  of  a  decidedly  grayish  color.  They  also  pre- 
sent a  moister  and  usually  a  larger  appearance  than  those  en- 
shrouded with  ^porotrichum.  From  about  June  20th  to  August 
1st,  Empusa  was  seen  in  numerous  fields,  but  in  no  field  in 
great  numbers.  While  Empusa  without  a  doubt  has  proven  it- 
self to  be  a  destructive  agent  in  the  extermination  of  Chinch - 
bugs,  the  great  percentage  of  favorable  results  observed  by  me 
have  been  due  to  Sporotrichum  and  bacteria." 

My  report  made  to  the  United  States  entomologist  upon  this 
insect  in  October,  1887,  will  perhaps  be  of  some  interest  here, 
as  in  that  paper  I  have  given  a  general  outline  of  this  entire 
subject.      It  is  herewith  given  in  full : 

Great  and  widespread  have  been  the  depredations  of  this  re- 
pulsive pest,  which,  next  to  the  Kocky  Mountain  Locust,  is  our 
most  injurious  species  of  insect  enemy.  From  its  depredations 
alone  throughout  the  drouth-stricken  region  of  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri  valleys  during  the  present  season,  millions  of  dol- 
lars' worth  of  grain  have  been  destroyed,  and  in  several  localities 
actual  privation  is  liable  to  follow. 

The  annexed  crop  reports,  culled  from  various  daily  and  weekly 
newspapers  published  throughout  this  region,  will  give  a  slight 
intimation  of  the  true  state  of  the  subject  under  consideration. 
Still,  each  region  always  draws  its  own  afflictions  as  mildly  as 
possible,  while  in  speaking  of  those  of  a  neighboring  district 
they  are  liable  to  be  somewhat  overdrawn  or  exaggerated. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  second  week  in  July,  rumors  of 
Chinch-bug  depredations  at  isolated  localities  throughout  the 
drouth-stricken  area  were  first  circulating  through  the  press.  A 
week  later  these  rumors  had  been  substantiated,  and  it  was  defi- 
nitely known  that  their  distribution  and  depredations  were  more 
widespread  and  general  than  was  at  first  supposed;  not  only  in 
this  state,  but  also  in  Kansas,  Missouri,  Iowa,  portions  of  Illi- 
nois, Minnesota,  and  southeastern  Dakota.  But  not  until  harvest 
arrived  was  the  full  extent  of  these  depredations  known. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  281 

Causes  of  increase. — When  the  matter  is  carefully  studied  and 
the  causes  of  the  undue  increase  of  this  insect  are  taken  into  con- 
sideration, the  wonder  is  that  the  injury  was  not  greater  and 
more  widespread  than  it  actually  has  been.  The  long- continued 
drouth  of  last  year,  with  large  areas  of  Chinch-bug  depredations, 
followed  by  a  generally  close  and  severe  winter,  after  which  came 
a  warm,  dry  spring,  and  hot,  scorching  summer;  all  these  favored 
in  the  greatest  degree  the  most  complete  development  of  the  bug 
in  all  its  stages.  But  a  comparatively  few  of  its  natural  enemies 
were  present,  and  most  of  these,  too,  were  species  that  prefer 
preying  upon  other  insects  to  feeding  on  the  unsavory  rebel  under 
consideration,  when  insects  of  any  other  kind  can  be  found.  These 
predatory  species  had  a  plentiful  host  in  the  various  species  of 
aphides,  leaf-beetles,  and  such-like  other  depredators  that  were 
also  present  in  great  numbers. 

One  of  the  most  common  and  by  far  the  chiefest  of  reasons  for 
the  large  numbers  of  the  pests  that  are  always  ready  to  take  their 
place  when  the  opportunity  offers  is  the  great  carelessness  prev- 
alent among  farmers  in  general  to  "clean  up"  during  late  fall 
and  early  spring.  Especially  is  this  true  in  portions  of  Nebraska, 
Iowa,  and  Kansas,  The  bugs  winter  among  rubbish  of  all  kinds, 
in  meadows,  along  fences,  in  brush  heaps,  among  fallen  leaves,  and 
among  the  debris  collected  by  hedges,  weed  patches,  and  along 
the  outskirts  of  groves  among  the  underbrush.  But  there  is  no 
use  of  my  going  over  these  points  that  have  been  mentioned 
again  and  again  by  all  writers  upon  the  subject. 

After  the  bugs  have  become  a  pest,  the  only  effectual  remedy 
is  wet,  cool  weather.  For  some  reason  or  other  their  constitu- 
tion is  not  suited  to  a  superfluity  of  moisture,  nor  can  they  adapt 
themselves  to  it.  Humidity  has  the  effect  of  bringing  on  disease 
and  final  dissolution  with  them,  just  as  it  does  with  various  mi- 
gratory locusts,  the  only  difference  being  in  favor  of  the  locusts. 
A  good,  soaking  rain,  or  at  most  two  or  three  of  such,  following 
in  the  course  of  several  days,  generally  ends  effectually  the  most 
threatening  Chinch-bug  devastation;  while  on  the  other  hand,  a 
year,  or  even  two,  of  such  weather  is  sometimes  required  to  en- 
tirely obliterate  a  locust  plague. 


282  INSECT  ENEMIES  OP  SMALL  GRAINS. 

The  question,  then,  naturally  comes  up,  can  this  insect  not  be 
materially  kept  in  check  by  some  other  and  natural  means?  My 
answer  to  this  question  is,  yes.  To  a  certain  degree  this  is  quite 
possible,  and  not  nearly  so  difficult  a  task  as  one  might  suppose. 
A  good  cleaning  up  and  burning  of  rubbish  of  all  kinds  in  late 
fall,  winter,  or  early  spring,  will  answer  the  purpose,  if  the  work 
be  general,  by  reducing  the  number  of  hibernating  insects. 
Osage  orange  and  all  other  very  brushy  hedges  are  the  most  at- 
tractive retreats,  and  at  the  same  time  most  formidable  retreats 
to  master.  For  my  part,  I  would  be  in  favor  of  removing  these, 
and  replacing  them  with  some  other  kind  not  so  difficult  to  keep 
free  from  the  collecting  debris  carried  by  winds.  Uncultivated 
prairie  lands  adjoining  fields  should  also  be  burned  early  in  the 
spring.  The  breaking  down  and  burning  of  cornstalks  in  the 
spring  following  a  Chinch-bug  year  will  also  destroy  myriads  of 
the  insects  that  have  have  hibernated  between  the  leaves  and 
stalks.  At  other  times,  however,  the  stalks  had  better  be  utilized 
as  a  fertilizer  by  plowing  under.  If  covered  deeply,  this  will  be 
a  remedy  fully  as  effectual  as  if  burned.  Protect  the  birds,  and 
above  all  the  quails,  for  they  destroy  countless  numbers  of  hiber- 
nating insects  of  various  kinds  that  are  to  picked  up  about  hedges 
and  such- like  resorts  frequented  by  these  birds  throughout  the 
year.  Although  belonging  to  the  granivorous  birds,  the  quail  is 
essentially  insectivorous,  except  during  inclement  weather,  when 
insects  are  not  easily  obtained.  In  my  profession  as  taxider- 
mist, I  have  dissected  many  different  species  of  birds  in  the  crops 
of  which  were  contained  injurious  insects  of  various  kinds,  the 
Chinch-bug  among  the  others.  In  no  other  instance  do  I  remem- 
ber of  the  presence  of  this  insect  in  the  crop  of  a  bird  in  so  great 
numbers  as  in  that  of  the  quail.  As  a  rule,  but  few  birds,  mam- 
mals, reptiles,  or  rapacious  insects  seem  to  relish  any  of  the  odor- 
iferous members  of  the  order  Hemiptera  or  true  bugs.  In  winter, 
however,  this  repugnance  is  partially  overcome,  and  now  and 
then  even  a  Chinch-bug  seems  a  delicate  morsel  when  "meat"  is 
scarce. 

Very  few  insects  are  known  to  prey  upon  the  Chinch -bug; 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OP  SMALL  GRAINS,  283 

while  I  myself  have  never  observed  any  of  the  species  which 
have  been  credited  with  the  good  work  of  thus  attacking  the 
enemy.  True,  I  have  frequently  seen  different  species  of  Lady- 
bugs  [Coccinella,  Hippodamla,  etc.),  and  the  Lace-wing  fly,  upon 
the  same  corn  stalk  with  the  Chinch-bugs.  Upon  close  observa- 
tion it  was  also  ascertained  that  the  plant  was  more  or  less  in- 
fested with  some  aphid  or  plant-louse  which  had  attracted  these, 
their  natural  enemies,  before  the  bugs  arrived.  It  must  not  be 
inferred  from  what  I  say  here  that  I  discredit  the  writings  of 
such  authorities  as  Thomas,  Le  Baron,  and  others.  Such  is  far 
from  my  intentions. 

Various  remedies,  as  plowing,  rolling,  ditching,  fencing,  and 
the  use  of  insecticides  have  been  suggested  and  used  with  more 
or  less  favorable  results,  both  in  this  and  other  states;  deep  plow- 
ing immediately  after  harvest  having  succeeded  in  a  few  in- 
stances by  covering  the  bugs  so  deeply  that  they  could  not  creep 
out.  Rolling  at  a  like  season  has  crushed  large  numbers,  while 
ditching  and  fencing  have  succeeded  in  "bunching  "  them  and 
for  a  time  checking  their  onward  movement  while  migrating 
from  small  grain  fields  to  corn  fields.  At  such  times  the  drag- 
ging forward  and  backward  of  a  heavy  weight  of  some  sort  has 
been  the  means  of  causing  great  slaughter  among  their  contin- 
ually increasing  ranks.  Ditches  into  which  water  could  be 
turned  have  formed  complete  barriers  to  their  creeping  migra- 
tions, but  not  to  the  after  movements  of  the  winged  insects  as 
they  were  about  to  mate  for  the  second  brood. 

This  insect,  like  all  depredators,  has  its  likes  and  dislikes,  and 
chooses  its  food  plants  with  considerable  daintiness  of  taste. 

The  small  grains  are  the  first  on  the  list,  after  which  follow 
some  of  the  grasses  and  corn.  Among  the  grasses,  millet,  Hun- 
garian, and  fox-tail  stand  at  the  head,  while  a  few  others 
that  usually  grow  as  weeds  follow  closely.  Wild  buckwheat  is 
also  quite  a  delicacy  Avitli  them,  and  I  have  noticed  several  ex- 
amples where  Aveedy  fields  were  less  injured  than  clean  ones, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  one  contained  equally  as  many 
bugs  as  the   other.     Several  farmers  in  this  state  have  also  men- 


284  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

tioned  the  same  fact  to  me.  As  a  rule,  grain  in  a  grassy  field 
has  the  disadvantage  alongside  of  that  growing  in  a  clean  one. 
During  the  past  summer  I  saw  several  examples  in  which  the 
scale  was  turned.  One  of  these  in  particular  attracted  my  atten- 
tion at  the  time.  The  crop  was  corn,  growing  just  across  the 
road  from  a  field  of  wheat  which  had  been  so  badly  damaged  as 
to  render  its  harvest  useless.  The  ground  was  covered  with  wild 
Hungarian  or  fox-tail  grass,  which  at  the  time,  August  6th,  was 
dead  and  perfectly  dry  for  a  considerable  distance  in  from  the 
road.  Upon  examination  it  was  found  that  our  old  acquaintance 
was  at  work  here,  attacking  the  fox-tail  in  preference  to  the  corn. 
Referring  to  my  notes  made  on  the  ground,  I  find  the  following: 

"The  Chinch -bug  is  still  present  in  considerable  numbers  in  a 
few  corn  fields,  but  absent  from  others  where  there  are  signs  of 
its  work.  In  these  a  large  per  cent  of  the  grass  (fox-tail)  had 
been  entirely  killed  before  the  corn  was  attacked.  In  no  instance 
has  the  corn  been  greatly  damaged,  the  only  perceptible  injury 
being  in  the  drying  up  of  a  few  of  the  lower  leaves." 

We  had  several  heavy  rains  just  prior  to  this,  so  the  partial 
disappearance  of  the  pest  could  very  likely  be  attributed  to  that 
cause.  Since  that  date  but  a  few  scattering  specimens  of  the 
bugs  have  been  noticed.  Hence,  I  imagine  our  rains  of  August 
and  September  have  been  of  great  benefit  in  their  diminution. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  state  that  the  only  remedy  that  I  know 
of  is  in  clean  farming^burning  all  rubbish  in  early  spring  that 
has  not  disappeared  during  fall  and  winter;  also  the  protection 
of  our  winter  birds. 

In  regions  that  depend  entirely  upon  irrigation  for  moisture, 
or  such  as  are  easily  flooded,  there  never  need  be  any  loss  of 
crops  from  the  depredations  of  this  insect. 

As  to  future  possibilities  of  injury  we  can  say  nothing  definite, 
as  weather  alone  will  decide  the  matter,  a  wet  year  preventing 
and  a  dry  one  favoring  their  increase  in  damaging  numbers. 

The  False  ok  Bogus  Chinch-Bug.     Nysiiis  angustatus  Uhl. 

Flea-like  Negro  Bug,     Corimelcena  pulicaria  Germ. 

See  figures  74  and   76  on  page  434,  where   these  insects  are 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


285 


Fig.  78, 
Plant-bug  {Lygus 
pratensis).  [After 
Riley.] 


described.     Both  of  these  have  been  known  to  attack  grain   to 
some  extent. 

THE    TARNISH    PLANT    BUG. 

[Lygus  pratensis  Linn.) 

Another  of  the  insects  that  appears  on  al- 
most every  list  of  insect  enemies  is  the  one 
figured  herewith  (Fig.  78).  It  is  known  as 
the  Tarnish  Plant-bug,  Lygus  pratensis,  and 
often  is  the  cause  of  considerable  damage  dur- 
ing early  spring  by  gathering  in  great  num- 
bers upon  opening  buds  and  blossoms  from 
which  it  sucks  the  vitality  by  inserting  its 
Tarnish  beak  and  extracting  the  sap.  It  hibernates  in 
all  kinds  of  sheltered  places,  and  as  soon  as 
vegetation  starts  in  the  spring  comes  forth 
hungry  and  prepared  for  work. 

REMEDIES. 

As  a  small  grain  pest  this  bug  is  never 
very  bad,  but  it  should  nevertheless  be 
destroyed  whenever  and  wherever  this  is 
possible.  Since  it  breeds  on  weeds  of 
various  kinds  in  large  numbers,  clean  cul- 
ture is  one  of  the  best  preventive  meas- 
ures to  be  recommended. 

Large-Eyed  Ground-Bug.  {Geocoris 
hullata  Say)  is  another  of  the  Chinch- 
bug-like  insects  that  occasionally  occurs 
quite  plentifully  in  grain  fields  here  in 
the  west.  It  is  shown  in  the  illustration 
While  it  is  more  of  a  weed 
insect    than    a    grain  pest,  it 


Fig.  79.  —  Large-eyed 
Ground-bug  {Geocoris 
bullata),  enlarged.  [Orig- 
inal.] 


(Eig.  79). 
and   grass 
sometimes  attacks  the  latter  also. 

EUCHISTUS  FISSILIS,  UhLER. 

Dr^ocoris  rapidus,  Say. 

PODISUS — Sp.  ? 


286  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

LEAF  HOPPERS. 

[JassidcB.) 

Jassus  inimicus  Say. 

There  are  a  number  of  insects  that  go  by  the  popular  name  of 
leaf -hoppers,  which  derive  their  nourishment  by  means  of  a  beak, 
which  they  insert  into  the  leaves  and  stems  of  various  plants, 
and  from  which  they  extract  the  juices.  Several  of  these  have 
at  different  times  been  known  to  attack  Indian  corn  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  cause  injury  to  that  crop.  One  of  these,  the  Jassus 
inimicus  Say  (Fig.  81),  which  is  only  about  one-seventh  of  an 
inch  in  length,  was  first  described  in  1831  from  specimens  col- 
lected in  Virginia.  It  is  a  moderately  slender,  greenish-yellow 
insect,  dotted  and  marked  by  a  few  black  points. 

CiCADULA    NIGRIFEONS  Forbes. 

A  reference  to  the  accompa*Viying  il- 
lustration (Fig.  80)  will  aid  the  reader 
of  this  report  in  recognizing  the  insect 
which  has  received  the  above  name. 
The  insect  which   it  represents  is  "a 

^      „^     ^.  moderately    slender,     yellowish  -  screen 

Fig.  80.    Cicadula  mgri-  .  .,,     ^  ,\     ,  .    ,        .     , 

/?-o«s— enlarged.      [After     species,  with  tour   black   points  at  the 

^^^^^^•J  anterior   margin   of  the   vertex.       The 

head  is  sublunate,  obtusely  rounded  in  the  middle,  its  antero- 
posterior diameter  next  the  eyes  being  about  three-fourths  its 
median  diameter.  Its  color  is  pale  yellow,  irregularly  mottled 
with  white,  with  an  arc  of  four  irregular  black  points  at  its  an- 
terior margin,  the  outer  of  these  just  above  and  within  the  ocelli. 
There  is  a  slender  impressed  median  line,  black  or  dark  brown, 
and  a  depressed  spot  upon  each  side  appears  midway  between 
this  and  the  eye.  Total  length,  .14  inch." — (Forbes,  14th  Ills. 
Rept.,  p.  67.)  Found  at  Anna,  111.,  July  14,  very  common  on 
young  corn.     Also  an  enemy  of  small  grains. 

Cicadula  quadrilineatus  Forbes. 

A  third  species  of  these  leaf -hoppers  that  is  habitually  a  small 
grain  enemy  is  "similar  in  general  appearance  to  Cicadula  nig- 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


287 


rifrons,  but  differs  in  wing  veins  and  color  markings.  Head 
with  two  round  black  spots  upon  either  side  of  the  middle  of  the 
base,  about  equidistant  from  the  median  impressed  line  and  from 
the  eyes.  In  front  of  these  a  transverse  black  line  extending 
from  eye  to  eye,  but  interrupted  at  the  middle  of  the  vertex,  fol- 
lowed by  a  second  heavier  line  sometimes  interrupted  and  some- 
times not,  the  two  being  nearly  joined  by  a  bar  at  the  ends  of 
the  first." 

As.  these   leaf-hoppers   occur   upon  small   grains  and  grasses 
they  can   be   best   destroyed   by  the  use  of   some   form  of    the 


Fio.  8L — Jassus  in- 
imicus.     [Osborn. 


Fia.  82. 
Osborn.] 


-Diedrocepliala  viollipes.  [After 


Fig.  83. — Cicadula 
exitosa.     [Osborn.] 


21 

Fia.  M.— Cicadula        Fig.  S^.—Deltoceph- 
exitosa.     [Marx.]  alus  debilis.  [Osborn. 


"hopper  dozer,"  which  has   proved   so   successful  in  capturing 
and  destroying  young  grasshoppers  or  locusts. 

DiEDROCEPHALA    FLAVICEPS    Eiley. 

Tender-foot  Leaf  Hopper   [Diedrocephala   mollipes    Say.  j 
This  insect  is  shown  in  Figure  82  in  its  different  stages  of  growth. 
Stictocephala  lutea  Walk. 
Stictocephala  inermis  Fabr. 
Atynina  viridis  Emmons, 


238  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

Leaf-hopper — Undetermined. 

The  Destructive  Leaf-Hopper  (Cicadula  exitosa  Uhl. ) 
Perhaps  the  most  destructive  of  these  "leaf-hoppers"  that  has 
thus  far  been  observed  to  attack  the  small  grains  here  in  the 
United  States  is  the  one  jQgured  herewith  (Figs.  83  and -84).  It 
is  a  rather  small  species,  being  but  about  one-fifth  of  an  inch  in 
length.  In  general  color  it  is  pale  clay-brown,  "polished  above, 
but  pale  beneath."  While  enjoying  a  moderately  wide  distribu- 
tion, it  is  most  abundant  southeastward,  where  most  of  its  in- 
juries have  occurred  to  winter  wheat. 

THE  WHEAT  APHIS. 

{Siphonophora  avencB.) 

Possibly  the  insect  that  is  next  in  importance  as  a  small  grain 
enemy  after  the  chinch-bug,  is  the  one  figured  herewith  (Figure 
86).     It  is  known  as  the  Wheat  Aphis,  although  it  also  attacks 


Fia.  86.— The  Wheat  or  Grain  Louse,  winged  viviparous 
female.     [After  Smith.] 

other  small  grains,  as  well  as  some  of  the  cultivated  and  native 
grasses.  While  this  louse  has  never  been  the  cause  of  any  great 
amount  of  injury  in  the  state,  it  has  been  observed  to  be  present 


I-NSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS,  289 

in  various  localities  for  several  years  in  considerable  numbers. 
That  it  is  on  the  increase  there  can  be  no  question,  and  that  it 
may  do  damage  in  the  future  is  also  possible.  It,  therefore, 
behooves  us  to  acquaint  ourselves  with  its  appearance  and  mode 
of  attack. 

Winter  wheat  seems  to  be  most  favorable  to  the  development 
of  this  grain  louse,  since  it  provides  a  means  of  carrying  it 
through  the  winter.     It  can  be  described  as  follows:* 

"  The  fully  grown  plant  lice  are  rather  less  than  a  tenth  of  an 
inch  long,  with  the  body  a  little  flattened  from  above  downward 
(depressed),  and  widest  behind.  Each  bears  a  pair  of  slender 
feelers  (antennse),  a  jointed  beak  which  it  holds  close  against 
the  underside  of  the  body  when  not  in  use,  three  pairs  of  jointed 
legs,  and  toward  the  hind  end  of  the  abdomen  are  two  short 
tubes  (cornicles)  with  open  extremities.  The  general  color  is 
pale  green,  varyiug  sometimes  to  pale  brown.  A  series  of  small 
spots  along  each  side  of  the  abdomen,  most  of  the  antennse,  the 
tips  of  the  thighs,  the  feet,  and  in  winged  examples  the  greater 
part  of  the  thorax,  are  black.  About  the  bases  of  the  cornicles 
a  rust-brown  color  is  generally  apparent." 

I  LIFE   HISTOBY. 

The  life-history  of  this  plant-louse  does  not  appear  to  be  very 
well  understood.  While  a  sort  of  general  knowledge  of  the  in- 
sect's life  is  known,  there  still  remains  much  to  be  ascertained. 
That  the  insect  infests  all  the  small  grains,  corn,  and  several  of 
the  wild  and  cultivated  grasses,  is  pretty  well  established.  That 
it  lives  through  the  winter  on  the  roots  and  down  in  the  ground 
on  the  stem  of  winter  wheat  is  settled;  and  that  it  also  occurs 
through  late  summer  and  early  fall  on  volunteer  grain  is  quite 
evident  from  observations  made  by  different  investigators.  Just 
where  the  true  sexes — male  and  female — are  matured  and  where 
the  eggs  are  deposited  that  carry  the  insect  through  critical  pe- 
riods, is  still  a  mystery.  But  that  such  a  state  exists  at  stated 
intervals  I  believe  there  is  no  doubt.  All  other,  or  more  defin- 
itely, a  large  number  of  allied  plant- lice  have  such  a  stage  in 

•Qarman,  In  BuJ.  21,  Kentucky  Agr.  Expr.  Sta.,  p.  22,  Sept.,  1889. 


290  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 

their  life-cycle.  The  insect  is  to  be  met  with  both  as  winged 
and  apterous  forms,  just  as  are  other  species  with  which  entomol- 
ogists are  more  or  less  better  acquainted. 

Wherever  and  in  whatever  manner  the  insect  passes  through 
winter,  in  spring  it  soon  reappears  upon  the  plants,  where  it  c'e 
velops  quite  rapidly  by  many  generations  and  spreads  over  the 
field  and  neighboring  fields.  The  winged  individuals  establish- 
ing new  colonies  in  distant  localities.  The  methods  of  reproduc- 
tion among  plant-lice  have  repeatedly  been  described  by  me  in 
different  reports,  so  will  not  be  repeated  here. 

ENEMIES    OF   THE    WHEAT    APHIS. 

Professor  A.  J.  Cook,  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College 
and  Experiment  Station,  in  speaking  of  these  says:  "The  im- 
portance of  parasitic  and  predaceous  insects  in  overcoming  our 
insect  pests  has  long  been  recognized  by  the  practical  entomolo- 
gist.    He  sees  the  destroy?  rs  swept  off  as  by  a  flood ;  and  sees  in 


Fig.  81  .—Ceraphron  triticum.     [After  Smith.] 


these  prolific  friends  the  easy  solution  of  the  problem  of  insect 
years .  He  knows  that  were  it  not  for  these  friends  the  destroy- 
ing hosts  would  make  our  earth  a  desert,  and  replace  plenty  with 
famine.     He  knows   that    adversity    among    these   tiny  helpers 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SM.iLL  GRAINS.  291 

meaDs  success  to  the  swarms  of  insects  that  devour  the  crops, 
and  is  rejoiced  when  he  sees  these  little  helpers  active  and  nu- 
merous." 

Among  the  internal  or  parasitic  enemies  of  this  louse  the 
small,  four- winged  hymenoptera  are  chief.  Of  these  there  are 
several.  These  small  creatures  attack  the  lice  by  laying  their 
eggs  in  the  bodies  of  the  aphides,  one  in  each  louse  attacked. 
These  soon  hatch  and  the  grubs  begin  feeding  upon  the  tissues 
of  their  unwilling  hosts.  Professor  Cook,  in  his  little  bulletin 
above  referred  to,  states  that  "the  lice  that  are  the  victims  of 
these  eager  parasites  are  easily  distinguished.  They  are  short, 
rounded,  and  gray  in  color.  After  the  larva  disembowels  the 
louse  it  uses  the  dry,  thick  skin  as  a  cocoon,  in  which  it  changes 
to  a  pupa.  Very  soon  the  mature  insect  comes  forth  from  a 
small,  round  hole  in  the  upper,  hinder  part  of  the  abdomen,  and 
very  soon  mates  and  commences  to  lay  its  many  eggs  in  new 
victims.  Of  course,  these  parasitic  larvae  fairly  swim  in  the 
rich,  nutritious  blood  of  the  lice,  and  so  are  rapidly  developed. 
Thus  we  see  how  it  is  that  the  parasites  are  too  much  for  the 
lice.  Prolific  as  are  the  lice,  and  rapid  as  are  they  in  develop- 
ment, yet  the  parasites  are  even  more  so,  and  thus  it  is  that  in 
ten  days  the  parasites  have  so  outnumbered  the  lice  that  the  lat- 
ter have  been  routed  and  driven  from  the  field."  In  describing 
one  of  these  parasitic  flies  he  uses  the  following  language:  "The 
little  flies  are  just  about  one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  length.  They 
are  black  above  and  yellowish-brown  beneath.  The  antennae  are 
black,  while  the  front,  mouth  parts,  and  legs  are  yellowish- 
brown.  In  some  specimens  the  femora  and  tarsi  are  dusky  and 
the  underside  of  the  abdomen  quite  dark.  Occasionally  we  find 
specimens  with  the  upper  part  of  the  abdomen  brownish,  except 
the  pedicel  and  tip.  There  seems  much  variation  in  the  color  of 
abdomen  and  legs,  though  in  most  cases  the  dorsal  surface  is 
black  and  the  ventral  surface  and  legs  brown.  The  antennae  are 
sixteen-jointed  in  the  female  and  seventeen  in  the  male.  They 
are  cylindrical,  recurved,  and  thickly  set  with  short,  light-col- 
ored hairs.     The  first  two  joints   are  shorter  and  larger   than 


292 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


the  others.  The  succeeding  joints  are  nearly  cylindrical,  close 
together,  and  equal  in  length,  except  the  last,  which  is  longer 
and  conical.  The  abdomen  is  lanceolate  and  all  the  segments 
are  freely  movable  on  each  other,  so  it  can  be  easily  bent  beneath 
the  body.  The  venation  of  the  wings  is  simple  and  the  first 
discoidal  cell  is  incomplete." 

The  parasitic  fly  shown  in  Fig.  87  is 
also  one  of  the  louse  destroyers,  but  it 
belongs  to  a  different  genus  from  the  one 
mentioned  by  Professor  Cook,  as  the  name 
will  indicate. 

Besides  the  parasitic  insects  mentioned 
above  these  and  other  lice  are  preyed 
upon  by  a  large  number  of  insects  of  a 
different  nature.  These  latter  are  pre- 
daceous  rather  than  parasitic,  i  e.  they 
seize  and  devour  the  lice  bodily.  Among 
these  latter  the  larvae  or  maggots  of  the 
Syrphus,  or  flower  flies,  stand  first  in 
rank.  "These  larvae  are  generally  over- 
looked, and  they  are  better  known  by 
their  deeds  than  their  appearance." 

"In  shape  they  are  slug-like,  tapering 
toward  the  head.  There  are  no  distinct  feet,  and  the  larvae  stick 
rather  close  to  the  leaves  or  on  wheat  heads,  and  remain  con- 
cealed among  the  spears  and  flowers.  When  they  are  hungry, 
which  is  generally  the  case,  they  lift  the  head  and  first  segments 
of  the  body  and  extend  them  out  in  every  direction,  the  larva 
nearly  doubling  in  length  when  stretched  out.  Any  unlucky 
aphid  within  reach  is  pounced  upon,  caught  with  the  jaws  of  the 
larva  and  lifted  high  in  the  air,  where  it  kicks  and  struggles 
until  its  juices  are  sucked  dry.  The  empty  skin  is  then  thrown 
away,  anad  the  larva  is  ready  for  the  next  victim.  In  color  this 
creature  [which  is  shown  in  Fig.  88]  is  a  very  pale  yellowish- 
green  when  young,  darkening  in  color  and  becoming  mottled 
with  reddish  purple  as  it  matures.     It  is  then  about  half  an  inch 


^^ 


Fig.  88.— Larva  of 
Syrphus  torvus:  a,  h, 
larva ;  c,  pupa.  [After 
Smith.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OP  SMALL  aRAlNS.  293 

or  less  in  length,  transversely  wrinkled  and  with  a  very  rough 
skin,  set  with  minute,  bristly-like  hairs.  When  it  is  full  grown 
it  fastens  itself  to  the  leaf  or  spear  of  wheat  upon  which  it  has 
lived,  and  curls  itself  up,  contracting  into  a  curious  hard  case  of 
a  dark  gray  color,  and  rather  more  than  one- quarter  of  an  inch 
long.  Fig.  88,  c,  gives  the  appearance  of  one  of  these  pupfc. 
Not  long  does  it  stay  in  this  form,  but  in  about  eight  or  ten  days 
a  pretty  bronze  and  yellow  fly  emerges. 

"  This  fly  is  nearly  half  an  inch  in  length,  the  head  entirely 
taken  up  by  the  large,  brown- red  eyes,  the  thorax  shining 
bronze,  but  covered  with  a  fine,  velvety,  soft  hair,  the  little  lun- 
ate scutellum  at  the  tip  of  the  thorax  yellow.  The  abdomen  is 
also  bronze,  but  each  segment  being  usually  broken  in  the  mid- 
dle.    The  figure  (No.  89)  will  give   a  very  good  view  of  the  fly 


Fig.  89.—Syrphus  torvus,  imago  enlarged.    [After 
J.  B.  Smith.] 

as  it  appears  at  rest.  It  hovers  about  the  wheat  in  the  bright 
sunshine,  and  the  female  lays  its  long,  oval,  pure-white  Qgg 
wherever  she  spies  a  colony  of  lice  large  enough  to  support  the 
young  larva  when  hatched. "  * 

A  large  number  of  other  insects,  such  as  are  shown  in  figures 

•  Prof.  J.  B.  Smith,  in  New  Jersey  Agric.  Col.  Expr.  Sta.  No.  72,  pp.  12-14. 


294 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


90  to  95  also  do  much  towards  keeping  this  and  other  plant-lice 
in  check.  Most  of  these  latter  have  been  described  in  various  of 
my  former  reports,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 


Fig.  90.— Hippodamia 
convergens.  [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  91.— Larva  of  Lady- 
bird.   [After  Riley.] 


Fig.  92.— Hippoda- 
mia 13-jiunctata.  [Af- 
ter Riley.] 


Fig.  93. — Coccinnella 
9-notata.  [After  Riley.] 


Fig  9^.— Hippo-, 
damia  maculata 
[After  Riley.] 


Fig.  95.— Lace-wing: 


a,  eggs  on  leaf;  h,  larva;  c,  d,  mature  insect. 
[After  Riley.] 


Other  species  of  Aphididse  that  have  been  taken  upon  small 
grain  are  the  following  as  nearly  as  they  have  been  determined 
and  reported: 

SiPHONOPHORA    GRANARIA  Kirby. 

Aphis  mali  Linn. 
Aphis — sp. 
Myzus — sp. 
Meqouea — sp. 

TOXOPTERA    GRAMINUM  Rond. 

Callipterus — sp. 
Rhopalosiphum — sp. 

TOXABES sp. 

SCHIZONEURA Sp. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  295 

THE  WHEAT  THRIPS. 

[Thrips  tritici,  Fitch.) 

The  insect  that  is  figured  herewith  is  typical  of  a  moderately 
numerous  group  of  small  insects  that  occur  in 
myriads  upon  flowers  of  different  kinds.  Thej^ 
are  also  more  or  less  common  upon  other  kinds 
of  vegetation  which  they  injure  to  a  greater  or 
less  degree.  Our  American  species  of  the  group 
{Thysanopiera  —  fring- wings)  are  mostly  unde- 
scribed.  There  are,  however,  a  few  of  them  that 
have  been  known  to  injure  crops  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  entomologists  have  written  about  and 
Ym.  QQ--Tlirips  published  descriptions  of  the  insects  themselves. 
One  of  these  is  the  insect  figured  herewith  (Fig. 
96).  It  is  about  one-twentieth  of  an  inch  in  length,  of  a  yel- 
lowish color,  the  thorax  inclining  to  orange,  with  the  legs  and 
antennae  yellowish-white,  the  latter  becoming  darker  at  their 
tips. 

The  Theee-Banded  Theips  {Coleothrips  trifasciata  Fitch.) 
This  second  species  is  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  tritici,  and 
is  correspondingly  more  robust.  Dr.  Fitch  describes  it  as  being 
''  of  a  black  color,  polished  and  shining,  with  the  third  joint  of 
the  antennae  white,  and  its  wings  black  or  dark  smoky-brown, 
with  three  broad,  white  bands,  whereof  one  is  upon  the  base,  an- 
other across  the  middle,  and  the  the  third,  which  is  somewhat 
narrower,  upon  the  tip." 

These  insects  live  upon  the  heads  of  wheat  where  they  feed 
upon  the  juices  of  the  forming  kernels.  Other  species  feed 
upon  the  tissues  of  the  plants  themselves,  and  some  are  carnivor- 
ous and  feed  upon  mites  and  other  microscopic  forms  of  insect 
life. 

ORTHOPTERA. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  mention  all  of  the  different  species  of 
orthopterous  insects  that  attack  small  grains,  for  were  I  to  do  so 
most  all  of  the  different  kinds  known  in  the  country  would  have 


296 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


to  be  included  in  the  list.  The  order  as  a  whole  is  composed  of 
vegetable  feeding  forms,  and  most  of  these  feed  upon  grasses 
and  allied  plants  in  preference  to  bushes  and  trees  or  herbaceous 
ones.  They  nearly  all  attack  cultivated  crops  in  preference  to 
wild  or  uncultivated  plants  when  the  former  are  at  hand.  In 
this  paper,  then,  only  such  species  will  be  mentioned  as  have  been 
ascertained  to  injuriously  attack  these  crops. 

The  Western  Cricket.      {Andbrus  simplex  Hald.) 
The  insect  figured  herewith  (Figure  97)  is  the  famous  Buffalo 
Cricket  that  has  so  frequently  become  sufficiently  numerous  in 
the  great  interior  basin  country  to  destroy  crops.     It  has  been 


Fig.  97. — Anabrus sivipleoc :  a,  female; 
of  male  abdomen,  (Entom.  Com.) 


b,  clasper  of  male;  c,  tip 


treated  of  in  the  reports  of  the  United  States  Entomological 
Commission,  and  other  government  publications.  As  it  is  con- 
fined chiefly  to  the  region  lying  to  the  west  of  the  Eocky 
Mountains  and  east  of  the  Coast  Range,  we  never  need  fear  its 
depredations  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 

The  Cone-Head  Grasshopper.  {Conocephalus  attenuatus. 
Scudd.) 

Sometimes  found  in  grain  fields  in  moderately  large  numbers. 
Especially  is  this  the  case  during  harvest  in  spring  wheat  and 
other  spring  sown  small  grain.  Other  species  of  the  genus  were 
taken  by  me  in  Texas  several  years  ago,  while  running  a  "  hopper 
dozer"  on  a  wheat  field. 

{Melanoplus  femur -ruhrum  De  G. ) 
Of  all  our  North  American  locusts 
or  grasshoppers  this  one  enjoys  the 
widest  range.  It  is  the  common 
species  in  all  parts  of  the  country 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and 
from   the    Arctic   circle  to   Central 


The  Red-Legged  Locust. 


Fig.  98.— The  Red-legged  Lo- 
cust (Melanoplus  femur-rub- 
rum);    female.     [After  -Riley.] 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS.  297 

America.  Its  devastations,  while  perhaps  not  as  great  as  those 
of  some  others  of  our  destructive  species,  have  been  frequent  and 
extensive  at  times. 

The  Lesser  Migratory  Locust.  {Melanaplus  cdlanis  Riley.) 
This  locust,  which  frequently  becomes  injurious  on  account  of 
its  excessive  increase,  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain species.  It  is  also  migratory  in  its  habits,  but  to  a  much 
less  degree  than  is  spretus.  In  its  distribution  this  insect  is 
much  more  widely  spread  than  femur -ruhrum,  being  common  in 
almost  all  parts  of  our  country  from  the  Mexican  boundary  to 
the  fifty-third  degree  or  north  latitude,  and  even  beyond  in  some 
parts  of  the  country.  It  is  the  species  which  most  frequently 
does  the  locust  injury  in  the  New  England  states,  much  of  that 
in  our  northern  states,  and  some  in  the  extreme  northwest.  It 
has  also  been  known  to  become  injurious  even  in  the  middle  and 
southern  states.  In  its  distribution  atlanis  appears  to  be  more 
partial  to  hilly  or  mountainous  country,  and  especially  is  this 
noticeable  in  reference  to  its  appearance  in  destructive  numbers. 
It  also  seems  to  prefer  wooded  or  mixed  country  to  the  open 
prairie  or  plains. 

As  would  naturally  be  expected  from  its  wide  distribution, 
this  particular  locust  presents  some  variations  in  its  size,  color, 
and  to  some  extent  also,  its  structure.  At  any  rate  there  appear 
to  be  three  well-marked  forms  of  the  species  to  be  met  with 


Fig.  99.— R.  M.  Locust:    dif-  Fig.  100. —Rocky  Mountain 

ferent  stages  of  growth  of  young.  Locust     (Melanoplus    spre- 

I After  Riley.]  Uis):    male.      [After  Riley.] 

within  the  confines  of  North  America.     It  does  not  differ  ma- 
terially in  general  appearance  from  the  femur -rubrum  which  is 
figured  above. 
Rocky  Mountain  Locust.      {Melanoplus  spretus  Thos.) 


2^8 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


The  Rocky  Mountain  or  Migratory  Locust  is  the  insect  which 
is  generally  referred  to  as  the  destructive  locust  of  North  Amer- 
ica, and  has  caused  more  injury  during  the  past  twenty  years  than 
any  dozen  of  the  other  species  combined.  It  is  this  species 
which  we  most  fear  on  account  of  its  migratory  habits.  So 
marked  is  this  trait  that  swarms  hatching  on  the  Saskatchewan 
have  been  traced  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  one  season.  Its 
habits  have  been  so  frequently  described  that  further  mention  is 

unnecessary.  It  is  shown 
in  the  accompanying  il- 
lustrations (99,  100,  and 
101)  which  show  the  in- 
sect in  its  various  stages 
of  growth  with  spread 
wings  and  closed.  The 
Kocky  Mountain  Locust 
has  very  probably  been 
studied  more  than  any 
other  species  of  locust 
known  to  science;  and 
the  numerous  remedies 
that  have  been  suggested 
and  tried  at  different  times  and  places  have  proved  that  it  is  pos- 
sible to  handle  almost  any  injurious  insect  enemy  if  we  go  at  it 
in  the  right  manner,  and  continue  our  attacks  after  once  having 
begur. 

The  Devastating  Locust.  [Melanoijlus  devastator  ^cudd.) 
This  is  one  of  the  destructive  lo- 
custs of  the  Pacific  slope,  and  is  well 
represented  in  the  accompanying  fig- 
ure 102.  Its  ravages  have  been  con- 
fined to  the  small  grains  and  grasses, 
locusts  that  should  be  mentioned  in  this  connection  are 

The  Ash-Colored  Locust.      [Melanoplus  cinereus  Scudd. ) 
The  Detestible  Locust.      {Melanoplus  /oedus  Scudd. )  and 
The  Robust  Locust.      [Melanoplus  rohustus  Scudd.) 


Locust;   female.     [After 


Fig.  102.— M.  devastator. 
Several  other  species  of 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


299 


The  Differential  Locust.  [Melanoplus  differentialis  Thos. 


Fig.  103. — The  Differential  Locust.  {Melanoplus 
differentialis):  female.    [After  Riloy.] 

Here  in  the  west  we  are  frequently  not  a  little  bothered  by 
a  rather  large,  yellowish  locust  of  which  the  acccompanying 
illustration  is  a  poor  representation.  This  insect  occurs  along 
roadsides,  the  edges  of  groves,  and  at  other  localities  where  the 
vegetation  is  somewhat  rank  in  growth.  When  more  than  com- 
monly numerous  it  attacks  and  injures  both  garden  and  field 
crops.  There  are  two  forms  of  this  differential  locust  here  in 
the  state,  viz.,  the  ordinary  yellow  one,  and  a  black  one.  This 
latter  form  does  not  differ  otherwise  from  the  typical  specimens. 
The  Two-lined  Locust.  {Melanoplus  bwittatus  Say.) 
The  locust   which  is  shown  in  Figs.  104  and  105  is  too  well 


Pig.  104. — Melanoplus  bivittatus:  female. 
[After  RUey.] 


Fig.  105.  — M.  bivittatus: 
male.    [After  Lugger.[ 


known  to  all  of  the  readers  of  this  report  to  require  any  special 


300  INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GKAINS. 

description  here.  Like  the  preceding  species  it  is  a  lover  of 
rank  vegetation,  and  is  oftenest  found  in  weed  patches  or  low 
grounds.  When  it  becomes  more  than  ordinarily  numerous  these 
weed  patches  are  forsaken  and  it  enters  grain  fields  and  gardens, 
where  occasionally  much  injury  is  done  to  growing  crops. 
Unlike  different ialis,  which  is  confined  to  the  central  portion  of 
the  United  States,  bivittafus  occurs  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  and  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Saskatchewan.  Its 
increase  in  destructive  numbers  appears,  however,  to  be  confined 
chiefly  to  the  regions  lying  between  the  Eocky  Mountains  and 
the  Atlantic.  This  locust  also  varies  somewhat  in  color,  but  can 
always  be  recognized  by  the  two  light- colored  lines  along  the 
side  of  thorax  and  wing  covers.  Fig.  105  represents  a  male  speci- 
men that  has  been  killed  by  a  fungous  disease  that  very  fre- 
quently destroys  numbers  of  these  insects. 

The  American  Locust  {^Shistocerca  americana  Drury. ) 
The  locust  which  is  shown  herewith  in  figure  106  is  known  as 
the  American  Locust,  to  entomologists  at  least  if  not  to  the  pop- 
ulace. It  is  truly  a  beautiful  insect.  In  addition  to  its  large 
size  and  attractive  appearance  this  insect  has  become  familiar  to 
many  of  us  on  account  of  its  ravages  to  crops.      It  is  the  species 


Fig.  106. — SMstocerca  americana:  female.  [After  Riley.] 
which  occasionally  devastates  Yucatan,  Central  America,  and 
portions  of  Mexico,  and  which,  on  rare  occasions,  becomes  suf- 
ficiently numerous  along  the  Grulf  coast  to  do  injury  to  crops.  It 
has  also  been  known  in  dangerous  numljers  as  far  northward  as 
the  Ohio  river,  and  occurs  sparingly  as  far  north  as  the  northern 
states. 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


301 


Fig,  107. — Camnula  pellucida. 
[After  Riley.] 


The  Pellucid  Locust  {Camnula  pellucida  Scudd.) 

The  locust  that  is  shown  in 
Fig.  107  is  a  representative  of 
a  different  subfamily  from  the 
above.  It  is  one  of  the  destruc- 
tive species  that  has  appeared 
at  different  times  in  California 
and   Nevada. 

Another  locust  that  has  re- 
cently increased  to    an  alarm- 
ing   extent    on    the    plains  of 
Colorado,  New  Mexico  and  the 
extreme  western  portions  of  Ne- 
braska and  Kansas  is 
The  Long-Winged  Locust  {Dissosteira  longipennis  Thos.) 
The  Green- Striped  Locust  [Chimarocephala  viridifasciata 
De  Geer.) 

remedies. 

These  grasshoppers  or  locusts  are  usually  kept  within  bounds 
by  their  insect  enemies,  but  when  the  weather  has  been  such  as 
to  kill  off  these  parasites  the  locusts  become  numerous.  When 
this  is  the  case  some  artificial  measures  must  be  resorted  to  if 
we  wish  to  keep  the  'hoppers  within  bounds  and  prevent  their  in- 
jury to  crops.  Such  remedies  have  been  numerous,  but  the  ones 
that  have  proved  the  most  efficient  are  plowing  under  deeply  the 
eggs  before  they  should  have  had  time  to  hatch,  and  the  captur- 
ing of  the  unfledged  locusts  by  means  of  "hopper  dozers." 
These  latter  are  shallow  sheet-iron  pans  in  which  are  put  coal 
tar  or  kerosene  oil  and  drawn  over  the  ground  by  horses  in  such 
a  manner  that  the  'hoppers  will  hop  into  the  pan  and  be  killed 
by  coming  in  contact  with  the  oil. 

The  Field  Cricket.     {Gryllus  abbreviatus  Serv.) 


302 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


The  common  field  cricket  lias  on  several 
occasions  been  caught  in  the  act  of  cutting 
off  stems  of  grain  in  the  field.  It  is  also  a 
noted  fact  that  several  species  of  these  in- 
sects are  guilty  of  much  damage  to  shocked 
grain  in  the  way  of  cutting  the  twine  bands 
that  hold  the  grain  in  sheaves  and  also  by 
feeding  upon  the  grain  inself.  They  also 
cut  off  young  growing  plants.  Several 
species  of  these  crickets  are  concerned  in 
this  mischief;  and  in  addition  to  the  above 
we  might  add 

Gryllus  pennsylvanicus  Burm.  and 

Gryllus  luctuosus  Serv. 

The    Garden  Flea.      [Smynthurus  hor- 

iensis  Fitch.  \ 

^  Fm.  108.— Gryllus  ab 

breviatus.    [Maysic 
Ames.] 

In  addition  to  the  large  list  of  insects  described  or  mentioned  on 
the  preceding  pages  there  are  still  others  that  occasionally  are 
to  be  found  in  grain  fields.  Quite  prominent  among  these  are 
several  species  of  small,  soft-bodied,  wingless  insects  of  very 
very  simple  structure,  belonging  to  the  t 
order  Thysanura  of  naturalists.  These 
are  closely  related  to  the  "Snow  Fleas" 
that  are  frequently  met  with  in  winter 
and  early  spring,  jumping  about  on  the 
snow.  One  of  these  "  garden  fleas  "  is 
shown  in  the  accompanying  illustra- 
tion, greatly  magnified.  (See.  Fig. 
109.) 

Dr.  Fitch,  in  writing  of  this  insect,      p^^  m.^Smyafhun,shor- 
says,    "This  insect  is  not  limited  to  the    tensis.    [H.  G.  Barber.] 
garden,  bui;  occurs  more  or  less  common  everywhere  in  arable 
land.     In  fields  of  young  wheat  and   rye,  in  May  and  June,  I 
have  often  noticed  it  as  being  more  numerous  than  any  other  in- 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


303 


sect  there."  While  these  little  creatures  are  vegetarians,  they 
feed  mostly  upon  such  plants  as  are  found  upon  the  ground  in  a 
more  or  less  decayed  condition.  They  do  not,  therefore,  figure 
among  the  very  destructive  forms.  Their  "jumping"  is  per- 
fojmed  by  means  of  tail -like  attachments  that  are  bent  under 
their  bodies  and  are  used  as  springs,  hence  the  name  "Spring- 
tails  "  which  is  frequently  applied  to  them. 

The  Pretty  Ground-Flea.      {Smynthurus  elegans  Fitch.) 
The  Marked  Ground  Flea.      [Smynthurus  signifer  Fitch.) 

AEACHNIDA. 

{Mites,  Spiders,  etc.) 

The  Stoeed-Grain  Mite.     ( Tyroglyphus  longior  Gervais. ) 
This  is  probably  one  of  the  most  disgusting  creatures  that  we 

have  to  deal  with  as  a  grain  pest. 
It  does  not  confine  its  attacks  en- 
tirely to  grain,  but  is  also  known 
to  attack  stored  drugs,  cheese, 
flour,  hams,  and  a  variety  of  food 
products.  As  will  be  seen  by 
reference  to  the  figure  of  this 
creature  and  a  second  one  (Figs. 
110  and  111),  they  are  eight- 
legged  instead  of  six-legged  as 
are  the  insects  proper.  They  are 
all  small,  semi-transparent  ani- 
mals covered  with  long  bristles 
or  hairs. 

REMEDIES. 

This  and  other  mites  of  sim- 
ilar habits  are   subject  to  the  at- 
FiG.  IVd.-Tyroglyphus  longior.      tracks  of  several  species  of  pre- 
[After  Murray's  Fig.]  daceous  mites  that  destroy  them. 

The  editors  of  Insect  Life,  in  a  reply  to  a  letter  in  reference  to 
this  mite  suggest  as    a  remedy    "the    burning   of    sulphur   all 


30i 


INSECT  ENEMIES  OF  SMALL  GRAINS. 


through  the  building,  especially  where  mites  abound,  and,  where 
they  are  particularly  thick,  it  might  be  well  to  let  a  little  bi-sul- 
phide  of  carbon  evaporate,  remembering  that  this  vapor  is  heavier 
than  air  and  that  it  is  exceedingly  inflammable."* 
The  Eed  Spider  {Tetranychus  telarius  Linn.) 
The  common  "  red  spider"  of  greenhouses  has  been  taken  this 
past  year  on  wheat  plants  in  Brookings,  S. 
Dak.  It  is  figured  in  the  accompanying  illus- 
tration (Fig.  111.)  It  is  not  at  all  probable 
that  this  mite  will  ever  be  the  occasion  of  any 
great  amount  of  injury  to  grain,  but  it  is  men- 
tioned here  as  an  example  of  a  certain  group 
of  Acarina  or  mites  that  naturally  work  upon 
growing  vegetation.       As    a  remedy    against 

Ym.lW—Tetrany-  these  kerosene  emulsion  is  quite  effective. 
chus    telarius,    en- 
larged.  [Griffiths.] 

•  Insect  JAte,  Vol.  I.,  p.  51.    Aug.,  1888. 


INDRX 


INDEX. 


Acarina,  136,  203. 
Acrididae,  30,  31,  35. 
Acridiinae,  36. 
Acridium  frontalis,  38. 
Acronycta  brumosa,  129. 

hamamelis,  129. 

luteicoma,  129. 

morula,  129. 

oblinita,  129. 

occidentalis,  129. 

radcliffei,  129. 
Aculeata,  94. 
^geria  acerni,  91. 
iEschna,  21. 
Agalia  siccif  olia,  62. 
Agrion,  21. 
Agrio'tes  mancus,  200,  252. 

pubescens,  201,  252. 
Agromyza  tritici,  199,  213. 
Agrotis,  172,  220. 

annexa,  200,  221,  223. 

clandestina,  129, 172,  200, 220, 221. 

maleflda,  223. 

messorla,  129,  223. 

morrisoniana,  200,  221. 

saucia,  129,  200. 

scandens,  129. 

subgothica,  200,  221. 

ypsilon,  129. 
Alaus  myops,  132. 

occulatus,  69,  132. 
Aletia  argillacea,  129. 

xylina,  228. 
Aleurodes,  134. 
Aleyrodidae.  56. 
American  locust,  203,  300. 
American  meal-worm,  263. 
American  silk-worm,  138,  169. 
Ampelophila,  136. 

Amphicerus  bicaudatus,  132, 156, 157. 
Amphipyra  pyramidoides,  129. 
Amphydasis  cognitaria,  129. 

Currant,  129. 
Anabrus  simplex,  41,  202,  296. 
Anametis  grisea,  133. 
Anarcia  lineatella,  130. 
Andrenidie,  103. 
Angoumois  grain  moth,  200. 
Anisopteryx  pome*"aria,  130. 

vernata,  130,  168. 
Anisota  rubicunda,  91. 


Anomala  marginata,  132. 

Margined,  132. 

undulata,  132. 

varians,  132.  201,  260. 

Varying,  201,  260. 
Antennae,  Beetle,  63. 
Anthocharis  genutia,  86,  88. 
Anthomyia,  Locust-egg,  107. 
Anthomyidae,  107. 
Anthonomus  crataegi,  133. 

quadrigibbus,  133,  190,  191. 
Anthophila,  103. 
Anthrax  hypomelas,  106. 
Ant,  200,  220. 

Little  red,  102. 

New  York,  136. 
Ants,  9,  93.  99. 

accompanying  plant-lice,  100. 

agricultural,  99. 

and  honey-dew,  100. 

leaf-cutting,  99. 

mound-building,  99. 

slave  making,  99. 

White,  9,  23,  136. 
Ant-lions,  9,  80. 
Aphaniptera,  9, 108. 
Aphides,  56 
Aphididae,  56. 
Aphis,  202,  294. 

Apple,  201. 

Apple-leaf,  134,  145. 

Apple-tree,  134,  144. 

brassicae,  58. 

Grain,  202. 

madi-radicis,  100. 

mali,  134, 144.  202,  294. 

malifoliae,  134,  145. 

Mouldy,  134. 

Spotted  willow,  135, 

Wheat,  202,  288. 

Wooly,  of  apple,  141. 

Lion,  80. 
Apidae,  103. 
Apple  aphis,  202. 

parasite,  146. 

curculio.  139,  190. 

gouger,  190. 

insects.  List  of,  127,  36. 

leaf  tier,  175. 

maggot,  136,  139,  193. 

maggot,  remedies,  193. 


308 


Apple 

thrips,  186. 

worm,  139. 

tree  caterpillar,  Red-humped, 
128. 

caterpillar,  Yellow-necked,  167. 

flea-beetle,  184,  185. 

leaf-louse,  56. 

moth,  Yellow-necked,  128. 

tent-caterpillar,  170. 
Apple-twig  borer,  156,  157. 
Arachnida,  6,  8,  303. 
Arctia  Isabella,  95. 
Arctiidae,  91. 

Argyresthia  andereggiella,  130. 
Army-worm,  93,  200,  228,  229. 

Fall,  129,  200,  224. 

Myriapod,  229. 

Saw-fly,  229. 

True,  227. 

Wheat-head,  232 

White-headed,  200. 
Arsenites,  how  used,  117. 

insects  killed  by,  118. 
Arthropoda,  6. 
Articulata,  6. 
Asida,  75. 
Aspidiotus  perniciosus,  135. 

rapax,  135. 
Aspidisca  splendoriferella,  ^31, 165, 

166. 
Asilidee,  105. 

Attacus  cecropia,  89,  128. 
Atynia  viridis.  202,  2S7. 
Bacterial  disease,  278. 
Bag-worm,  128,  138,  169. 
Banded  Hair-streak,  127, 
Bark-beetle,  Fruit,  159, 
Bark-beetles,  78. 
Bark-lice,  52. 
Bark-louse,  Apple,  135. 

Circular,  135. 

Oyster- shell,  137,  U6,  147. 

Scurfy,  134,  137,  147. 
Basket-worm,  138. 
Bat-ticks,  109. 
Beaver  parasite,  67. 
Bed-bug,  49. 
Bed-bugs,  so-called,  49, 
Bee-flies,  105,  106. 
Bee-lice,  109. 
Bees,  9.  93. 

parasitic,  103. 

social,  103. 

solitary,  103. 


Beetle,  Apple-bark,  134,  137. 
Blind  click,  132. 
Colorado  potato.  261. 

Eyed  snapping,  132. 
Fruit  bark,  137. 

Goldsmith,  71,  131,  139. 

Imbricated  snout,  138. 

June,  131. 

Lesser  grain,  200,  249. 

Pear-blight,  134,  137. 

Rose,  254,  255. 

Spotted  Cottonwood,  74. 

Stag,  131. 

Striped-cucumber,  133. 

12-spotted  cucumber,  133. 

12-spotted  squash,  161. 

Uncertain  snapping.  132. 
Beetles,  9,  62. 

bark,  78. 

bark-boring,  158. 

carpet,  239. 

carrion,  67. 

common  snapping,  132. 

blister,  75,  76, 

burying,  67. 

click,  69,  251. 

ground,  64. 

lamellicorn,  180,  255. 

leaf.  74.  1.39.  261. 

May.  71,  131,  139,  257. 

meal,  75. 

oil,  77. 

pill,  67. 

rhinoceros,  71. 

rove,  66. 

snapping,  69,  251. 

snout,  139. 

stag,  70. 

tiger,  63, 

whirligig,  66. 
Belostoma  americana,  47. 
Bill-bug,  Clay-colored,  268. 

small,  201,  267. 
Biston  ypsilon,  130. 
Biting-lice,  9,  23. 

remedy  for,  28. 
Biting-louse  of  ass,  27. 

of  cattle,  27. 
Bittacus,  82. 
Black  beetle,  32. 
Bladder-foot,  see  thrips. 
Blattida3.  31. 

Blissus  leucopterus.  201,  269,  270. 
Blister-beetle  Ash-gray,  133. 

One-colored,  76. 

Pear-tree.  133. 


INDEX, 


309 


Blister-beetle,  Spotted,  76. 

Striped,  76. 
Blister-beetles,  75,  76. 
Boarmia  crepuscularia,  130, 

pampinaria,  130. 
Body-louse,  50. 
Bombyliidse,  105. 
Book-lice,  23,  25. 
Borer,  Apple-twig.  132,  137. 

Banded  hickory,  73. 

Flat-headed,  137. 

Flat-headed  apple-tree,  132. 

Pear-tree,  128. 

Round-headed,  137. 

Round-headed  apple-tree,  133, 
153. 

16-legged  maple,  91. 

Stalk,  200,  228. 

Tyle-horned,  137. 
Borers,  flat-headed,  69. 

moth,  137. 

round-headed,  72. 
Boreus,  83. 
Boring  beetles,  152., 

bark,  158. 

flat-headed,  152. 

round-headed,  152. 
Bostrichus  bicornis,  132. 

Two  horned.  132. 
Bot-fly,  sheen,  108. 
Bot-flies,  108. 

cattle,  108. 

horse,  108. 

rabbit,  108. 

squirrel,  108. 
Boxelder  bug,  134, 139,  151. 
Brachystola  magna,  38. 
Brachytarsus  variegatus,  201,  269. 
Braconidae,  97. 
Braulinidse,  109. 
Breeze-flies,  105. 
Broad  necked  prionus,  155,  156. 
Brochymena  annulata,  134. 

carolinensis,  134. 
Bruchidae,  75. 
Bryobia  speciosa,  136. 
Bucculatrix,  Apple-leaf,  131. 

pomifoliella,  131. 
Bud-worm,  apple,  171. 
Bud-moth,  Eye-spotted,  130,  171, 
Bud-worms,  137,  171. 
Buffalo  cricket,  296. 

moth,  68. 

tree-hopper,  59,  148. 
Bug,  Boxelder,  134,  139,  151. 


Bugs,  45. 

snapping,  69. 
Bulb-worm,  Wheat,  211,  212. 
Buprestidae,  69,  152. 
Buprestis,  Divaricated,  132. 
Burrowing  web-worm,  244. 
Burying  beetles,  67. 
Butterflies,  9,  84,  86. 

skipper,  88. 

swallow-tail,  88. 
Butterfly,  Hackberry,  85,  87. 

Rape,  87. 

Turnus,  139. 
Caooecia  argyrospila,  130. 

rosana,  130. 

rosaceana,  130, 175. 
Caddis-flies,  9,  83, 
Calandra  granaria,  77,  201,  266. 

oryzae,  77,  201,  266. 

remotepunctata,  201,  267. 
Calandridae,  78. 
Calosoma  calidum,  65,  230,  232,  337. 

externum,  184,  260. 

Fiery,  65,  232. 

lugubre,  184,  260. 
C'allimorpha  fulvicosta,  128. 
Callipterus,  202,  294. 

mucidus,  134. 
Callosamia  promethia,  123, 
Camnula  pellucida,  135,  203,  301. 
Campodea,  15. 
Canarsia  hammondi,  130. 
Candle-flies,  61. 
Canker  worm,  168. 
Canker  worms,  138. 
CapsidsB,  48. 
Carabidae,  64. 

Carpenter  moth.  Locust,  93,  128. 
Carpocapsa  pomonella,  130,  187,  188. 
Carteria  lacca,  5,3. 

Case-bearer,    Apple  tree,    131,    138, 
164. 

Dominican,  134,  139,  181. 

Resplendent,  138,  165, 166. 
Cassida  bivittata,  75. 
Caterpillar,     Pyramid     grape-vine, 
129. 

Yellow-necked,  apple-tree,   138, 
167. 

Zebra,  129. 

Leaf-feeding,  167. 

Leaf-rolling,  137,  175. 

Tent,  138. 
Catocala  grynea,  129. 


310 


INDEX. 


Cecidomyia  caliptera,  199,  205. 
culmicola,  199,  205. 
destructor,  199,  203. 
graminis,  205. 
granaria,  199. 
inimica,  199,  205. 
secalina,  199,  205. 
Cecidomyidse,  105. 
Cecropia  moth,  89, 128,  138,  169. 
Centipede,  15. 
Centipedes,  6. 
Cephas  occidentalis,  199,  216. 

pygmsBus,  199,  215. 
CerambycidaB,  72,  153. 
Ceraphron  triticum,  290. 
Ceratomia  hageni,  90. 
Cercopidse,  61. 
Ceroplastes  floridensis,  135. 
Ceresa  bubalus,  13i,  148. 

taurina,  134. 
Cetonia,  Indian,  132,  139,  187. 
Cetoniida;,  187. 
Chaetocnemis,  262. 

confinis,  201,  262. 

pulicaria,  201,  262. 
Chafer,  Melancholy,  132. 
Chalcophora  liberata,  153. 

virginiensis,  153. 
Chalcididse,  97. 
Chalcis  fly,  Mary,  97, 101. 
Chamyris  cerintha,  129. 
Chicken  goniodes,  26. 
Chicken  louse,  Tariable,  27. 
Chilocorus  bivulnurus,  147. 
Chimarocephala  viridifasciata,    37, 

203,301.  ^ 

Chinch-bug,  48,  201,  258,  269,  285. 

causes  for  increase,  281. 

False,  134, 138,  150,  201,  272. 

food-plants,  272. 

habits,  271. 

life  history,  271. 

natural  enemies,  273,  274,  283. 
Chion,  Banded,  132. 

cinctus,  72,  132. 

garganicus,  132. 
Chionaspis  fufurus,  135,  147. 
Chlamys  plicata,  74. 
Chlorops,  213. 

antennalis,  199,  213. 

Common,  199,  213. 

Feather-horned,  199,  213. 

proxima,  199,  213. 

vulgaris,  199,  213. 

Wheat,  199,  213. 


Chrysobothris  californica,  132. 
femorata,  132,  152. 
semisculpta,  132. 
Chrysomela,  Cloaked,  133. 

multipunctata,  74. 
Chrysomelidae,  181,  261. 
Chrysopa,  81. 
Cicada,  60. 

Dog-day,  134,  1.37. 

septendecim,  60,  134. 

Seventeen-year,  60,  134,  137. 
Thirteen-year,  134. 

tibicen,  134. 

tredecim,  ]34. 
Cicadas,  51. 
CicadidaB,  59. 
Cicadula  exitosa,  202.  287,  288. 

nigrifrons,  202,  286.    * 

quadrilineatus,  202,  286. 
Cicindela  limbata,  64. 

6-guttata,  63,  231. 
Cicindelidte,  63. 
Cimbex  americana,  96. 
Cinura,  15. 
Cleridae,  70. 
Click-beetles,  251. 
Clisiocampa,  129. 

americana,  129. 

disstria,  128. 

erosa,  129. 

sylvatica,  229. 

thoracica,  129. 
Close- wings,  244. 
Clyclorhapha,  106. 
Coccidae,  52. 
Coccinella  9-notata,  68,  143,  294. 

venusta,  146. 
Coccinellidfe,  68. 
Coccotorus  prunicida,  192. 
Coccus  cacti,  52,  53. 
Cochineal,  46,  52,  53. 
Cockroach,  German,  31. 

Oriental,  32. 
Cockroaches,  9,  29,  31. 
Codling  moth,  130,  139,  187,  188,  258 

food-plants,  188. 

parasites,  189. 

remedies,  188. 
Coelodasys  unicornis,  128. 
Colaspis  brunneus,  75. 

Grape-vine,  75. 
Coleophora  fletcherella,  131. 

malivorella,  131,  164. 
Coleoptera,  8,  9,  62,  131,  200. 
Coleothrips  trifasciata,  202,  295. 
Colias  eurytheme,  86. 


311 


CoUembola,  16. 

Colorado  potato  beetle,  201,  258,  261. 
Comopterygidse,  79. 
Cone-headed  grasshopper,  40,  296. 
Conocephalinae,  40. 
Conocephalus  attenuatus,  202,  296. 

crepitans,  41. 
Conotrachelus  nenuphar,  133,  191. 
Copidryas  gloveri,  94. 
Copris  Carolina,  71. 
CoreidaB,  47. 
Corimelsena  pulicaria,  201,  272,  273, 

284. 
Corn  saw-fly,  215. 
Corycia,  Vestal,  130. 

vestaliata,  130. 
Corydalis  cornutus,  79. 
Coscinoptera  dominicana,  134,  181. 
Cossidae,  93,  163. 
Cotalpa  lanigera,  131. 
Cotton-worm,  228. 
Cottony  maple-scale,  54. 
Crab-louse,  50. 
CrambidcTB,  243. 
Crambus,  Vagabond,  200.  242. 

vulgivagellus,  200,  242,  243. 
Crane-flies,  104,  207. 
Crane-fly,  Border-winged,  199,  308. 

larvae,  207. 

Narrow-winged,  199,  208. 

Thick-nosed,  199,  208. 

Two-horned,  199. 
Crepidodera  cucumeris,  133. 

helxines,  133. 
Cricket,  Buflfalo,  296. 

Field,  42,  43,  203,  301. 

Mole,  41. 

Mormon,  41. 

Western,  202,  296. 

Wingless,  41. 
Crickets,  9,  29,  31,  41. 

camel,  41. 

cave,  41. 

stone,  41. 

tree,  42,  137, 161. 
Croton-bug,  32. 
Crustacea,  8. 
Cryptus,  Cecropia,  100. 

nuncius,  100. 
Cucujidae,  68,  249. 
Culicidae,  105. 
Carculio,  Apple,  133,  139,  190. 

4-humped,  190. 

Plum-,  133,  139,  191. 

Thorn-apple,  133. 
Curculionidae,  79. 


Cut-worm.  Bronzy,  200,  221. 

Clay-colored.  200,  221. 

Climbing,  129. 

Dark-sided,  129,  223. 

Dingy,  200,  221. 

Glassy,  200,  222. 

Granulated.  200,  221,  223. 

Shagreened,  223. 

Variegated,  129,  200,  221. 

Wheat,  200,  222. 

W-marked,  129,  200,  221. 

Yellow-headed,  200,  222. 
Cut-worms,  93,  138,  172,  220. 

natural  enemies,  224. 

remedies,  222,  223. 
Cynipidae,  96,  97. 
Cynips,  q.  prunus,  99. 

quercus  spongiflca,  99. 
Dactylopius  destructor,  52,  54. 

longifllis,  52. 
Daddy  long-legs,  82,  104,  207. 
Darning-needles,  9,  19, 
Datana  contracta,  128. 

integerrima,  128. 

ministra,  128,  167, 
Day-flies,  9,  17, 
Decticinoe,  41. 
Deer-flies,  105. 
Degeeria,  11. 
Deilephila  lineata,  127. 
Deltocephalus  debilis,  287. 

inimicus,  62. 
Deltoids,  239. 
Dermaptera,  9,  28. 
Dermestes  lardarius,  68. 
Dermestidge,  67. 
Devastating  locust,  298. 
Diabrotica,  Long-horned,  133. 

longicornis,  133. 

12-punctata,  133,  201,  261. 

12-spotted,  201. 

vittata,  133. 
Diapheromera  femorata,  34. 
Diaspis  ostreaeformis,  135. 
Dicerca  divaricata,  132,  153. 
Diedrocephala  flaviceps,  202,  287. 

mollipes,  62,  202,  287. 
Diplosis  tritici,  199,  206. 
Diptera,8,  9,  103,  136,  199. 
Disease,  Bacterial,  278. 

Gray  fungus,  279. 

White-fungus,  277. 
Dissipus  butterfly,  127. 
Dissosteira  Carolina,  37. 

longipennis,  .37,  203, 


312 


Dolerus  arvensis,  214. 

collaris,  199,  214. 
Dominican  case-bearer,  181. 
Doryphora  10-lineata,  201,  261. 
Draeocoris  rapidus,  202,  285. 
Dragon  flies,  9,  19. 
Drasterius  dorsalis,  201,  252. 

elegans,  201,  252. 
Drosophila  amoena,  136. 

ampelophila,  136. 
Dytiscidfe,  65. 
Dytiscus  marginalis,  65. 
Earwigs,  9,  28. 
Earwings,  28. 
Eccopis  maiana,  130,  171. 

permundana,  130. 
Ectobia  germanica,  31. 
Elachista  prematurella,  200,  248. 
Elaphidion,  Parallel,  132. 
parallelum,  132. 
villosum,  132. 
Elateridae,  69. 
Electric-light  bug,  46. 
Eleodes,  75. 

Embaphion  rauricatum,  75. 
Emblethis  arenarius,  49. 
Empoasca  albopicta,  134. 
obtusa,  134. 
viridescens,  134. 
Empretia  stimulea,  128. 
Empusa  aphidis,  279. 
Enchenopa  binotata,  134. 
Ennomos  subsignaria,  130. 
Entomology  compared  with  botany, 
5. 
Preliminary     introduction     to 

study  of,  5,  109. 
Scarcity  of  books  on,  5. 
Epargyreus  tityrus,  87,  88. 
Ephemeroptera,  9,  17. 
Ephestia  interpunctella,  200,  242. 
kuehniella,  200,  239,  240,  241. 
Epicaerus  imbricatus,  133, 137,  178. 
Epicauta  maculata,  76. 

vittata,  76. 
Erax  bastardii,  105. 
Ermine  moth,  Virginia,  127. 
Euchistis  fissilis,  202,  285. 
Euclea  cippus,  128. 
Eumacaria  brunnearia,  130. 
Euphoria  hirtipes,  187. 
inda,  132,  187. 
melancholica,  132. 
Eupogonius  tomentosus,  133. 
Euptoieta  claudia,  84,  87. 
European  meal-worm,  263. 


Eurytoma  f ulvipes,  200,  220. 
Eurycreon  communis,  235. 

crinisalis,  235. 
•     rantalis,  130,  234,  235. 
Euthoctha  galeator,  48. 
Euxesta  notata,  136. 
Exorista  leucanise,  231,  232. 
Fall  army- worm,  200,234. 

web- worm,  127,  170,  229. 
False  chinch-bugs,  48,  138,  150,  284. 
Field  cricket,  203,  301. 
Fire-flies,  69,  190. 
Fish  moth,  916. 
Flea,  109. 

Garden,  203,  302. 

Marked  ground.  203. 

Pretty  ground,  203. 
Fleas,  9,  lOS. 

remedies  for,  109. 
Flea-beetle,  Apple  tree,  133, 138, 184. 

Cucumber,  75,  133. 

Five-lined,  74. 

Grape,  133. 

Pale,  262. 

Pennsylvania,  75. 
Flea-beetles.  261. 
Flesh-flies,  107,  224. 
Flies,  9,  103. 

bee,  105. 

bot,  103. 

breeze,  105. 

deer,  105. 

flesh,  107. 

gall.  105. 

gnat-like,  105. 

horse,  105. 

lace-wing,  143. 

robber,  105. 

sun,  106. 

Syrphus,  143. 
Flour-beetle,      Ferrugineous,     201, 

264. 
Flour-moth,  Mediterranean,  239, 240, 

242. 
Flower-bug,  Insidious,  273. 
Fly,  Hessian,  105,  199.  203,  204. 

Pickled-fruit,  136. 

Pretty  pomace,  136. 

Variable  wheat,  211,  212. 

Wheat  mow,  199. 
Forest-flies,  109. 
Forflculidae,  28. 
Forficula  tseniata,  28. 
Formica  noveboracensis,  136. 

schauffusii,  200,  220. 
Fringe-wings,  9, 44. 


313 


Frit-fly,  America,  212,  213. 

European,  212. 
Frog-hoppers,  61. 
Fruit  bark-beetle,  139. 
Fulgoridae,  61. 
Fungus  disease,  gray,  279. 

white,  277. 

White-grub,  259,  260. 
Gall-flies,  96. 
Gall-gnat,  Rye,  199,  205. 
Gall-gnats,  105. 
Gallinippers,  209. 
Garden  flea,  203,  302. 

web-worm,  200,  234,  235. 
enemies,  239. 
food-plants,  236. 
Gastropacha  americana,  129. 
Gelechia  cerealella,  246,  247. 
Geocoris  bullata,  201,  285. 
Geometridae,  93. 
Giant  mosquitoes,  207. 

Water-bug,  46. 
Gypsy  moth,  128. 
Glassy  cut-worm,  200. 
Glyptoscelis  crypticus,  133. 
Gnathocerus  cornutus,  201,  265. 
Gnats,  gall-making,  105. 
Golden-eye  fly,  80. 
Goldsmith  beetle,  71. 
Goniodes  damicornis,  26. 

dissimilis,  26. 

falcicornis,  26. 
Gortyna  nitela,  200,  228. 
Gouger.  Apple,  190. 

Plum,  133. 

Sand-cherry,  192. 
Grain  aphis,  202. 

beetle,  Lesser,  249. 

louse,  212. 

life-history,  289. 
Wheat,  288. 

midge.  199,  205. 

mite,  Stored,  203. 

moth,  200,  245. 

Angoumois.  200,  246. 

Stored,  Rhyncophorid,  201. 

weevil,  201. 

Remote-punctured,  201,  267. 

weevils,  266. 
Grape-vine  flea-beetle,  75. 
Graphisurus,  Hackberry,  73. 
Grapholitha  prunivora,  130. 
Graptodera  chalybea,  133. 

foliacea,  133. 
Grasshopper,  Cone-headed,  40,  41, 
202,  206. 

Lubber,  38. 


Grasshoppers,  9,  29,  31, 137,  139, 176. 

long-horned,  39. 

meadow,  40. 

remedies,  301. 

short-horned,  35. 
Grass  saw-fly.  199. 

worm,  224,  228. 
Green-fly,  56. 
Ground  beetle.  Elongated.  65. 

bug,  Larged-eyed,  201,  285. 

flea.  Marked,  203.  302. 
Pretty,  203,  303. 
Grouse  locusts,  -37. 
Grub-worms,  70. 
Grubs,  White.  257. 
Gryllid£e,  30,  31,  41. 
Gryllotalpa  vulgaris,  42. 
Gryllus  abbreviatus,  42,  203,  301,  302 

luctuosus,  203,  302. 

pennsylvanicus.  203,  302. 
Guinea-pig  louse,  27. 
Gyrinidae,  66. 
Gyrinus,  Q6. 
Gyropus  ovalis,  27. 
Hadena,  220. 

arctica.  200. 

devastatrix,  200,  222. 
Hsematopinus  acanthops,  51. 

eurysternus,  50. 

squamosus,  51. 
Hag  moth,  128. 
Halesidota  caryae,  128. 

maculata,  128,  167. 
Haltica  punctipennis,  133. 
Harpalus  caliginosus,  64,  231,  238. 

pennsylvanicus,  64. 
Harvest-flies,  59. 
Hawk-moths,  90. 
Head-louse,  50. 
Heliothis,  130. 

Heliothrips  haemorrhoidalis,  135. 
Hellgramite  fly,  78,  79, 
Helops  micans,  136. 
Hemerobiinidae,  79. 
Hemileuca  maia,  128. 
Hemiptera,  8,  9,  45,  134,  201. 
Hen  louse.  Common,  27. 
Hesperia  montivaga,  86,  88. 
Hessian  fly,  105,  199,  201,  203,  204, 
212. 

remedies,  205. 

grazing  a  remedy,  205. 
Heterocera,  85,  88. 
Heteroptera,  9,  45,  46,  134. 
Hippiscus  di.scoideus,  37. 
Hippoboscidae,  109. 


31 


Hippodamia  convergeus,  ii3,  2^1. 
maculata,  li3,  294. 
13- punctata,  143,  294. 
Hispa,  Rosy,  133. 
Histeridae,  67,  159. 
Homoptera,  9,  45,  51,  134,  202. 
Honey  bee,  103. 
Hoplia,  180,  256. 
Hornet,  Bald-face,  103. 

White-faced,  136. 
Hornets,  102. 
Horn -tails,  95,  98. 
Horse-flies,  105. 
House  fly,  104. 
Hybernia  tiliaria,  130. 
Hydrophilidae,  65. 
Hydrophilus  triangularis,  66. 
Hylemyia  deceptiva,  199,  213. 

similis,  199,  213. 
Hymenoptera,  8,  9,  93,  136,  199. 
Hymenorus  obscurus,  133. 
Hypercheria  io,  128. 
Hyperplatys  maculatus,  133. 
Hyphantria,  128. 
cuuea,  127. 
textor,  229. 
Hypoderma  lineatus,  108. 
Hypothenemus,  134. 
Ichueumonidse,  96,  97. 
Ichneumonids,  232. 
Icthycerus     noveborascensis,     160, 

161. 
Imbricated    snout-beetle,   138,    161, 

178. 
Indian  cetonia,  139,  187. 

meal  moth,  242. 
Insect,  anatomy,  6,  11-15. 
definition,  6. 
enemies  of  apple,  127-195. 

predaceous,  146. 

small  grain,  197-304. 
powder,  Persian,  119. 
stages,  caterpillar,  6. 

chrysalis,  6. 

egg,  6. 

growth,  6, 

grub,  6. 

imago,  6. 

larva,  6. 

maggot,  6. 

nymph,  6. 

pupa,  6. 

reproduction,  7. 

rest,  6. 
Insecta,  6. 


Insecticides,  arsenite  of  lead,  117. 

arsenites,  115. 

bisulphide  of  carbon,  120. 

carbolic  acid,  120. 

hot  water,  122. 

Indian  poke,  121. 

kerosene  emulsion,  118, 

London  purple,  116. 

Paris  green,  116. 

pyrethrum,  119. 

soapsuds,  121. 

soft-soap,  121. 

tobacco,  121. 

Veratrum  album,  121. 

white  hellebore,  121. 
Insects,  apple.  Key  for  determina- 
tion of,  137. 

classification,  8,  9. 

distribution,  7. 

estimate  of  numbers,  8. 

importance  of  study,  5,  113. 

methods  of  fighting,  113-123. 

transformations,  6. 
InsidioiTS  flower-bug,  273. 
Ips,  Banded,  131. 

fasciatus,  67,  131. 
Isosoma  elymi,  200,  220. 

grande,  200,  219,  220. 

hordei,  200,217,  218. 

tritici,  200,  217,  219. 
Ithycerus  noveborascensis,  133. 
Japyx.  15,  16. 
Jassidae,  61. 
Jassus  inimicus,  202,  286,  287. 

irroratus,  134. 
Joint- worm,  Wheat,  217. 

Yellow-legged,  200,  220. 
Julus  marginatus,  136. 
June-beetle,  131. 
Katydid,  Angular-winged,  39,  40. 
Katydids,  9,  29,  31,  40. 
Kermes,  53. 

Kerosene    and     water,    mechanical 
mixture,  123. 

emulsion,  51. 

formula  for,  118. 
how  applied,  119. 
Lace-wing,  9,  79,  80,  143,  294. 
Lachnosterna,  180,  182,  201,  256,  257. 

afflnis,  131. 

crenulata,  131. 

fraterna,  131. 

fusca,  131,  182,  257,  258. 
hirticula,  131. 
micans,  131. 
prunina,  131. 


INDEX. 


315 


Lachnosterna, 
rugosa,  131. 
tristis,  131. 
Lachnus  deatatus,  135. 
Lady-bird,  Comely,  116. 
larva,  143,  291. 
Twice- wounded,  147. 
Lady  birds,  68.  143. 
Australian,  68. 
Lady-bu2:s,  68. 

LaBmophlaeus  alternans,  200,  249. 
Lagoa  crispata,  128. 

opercularis,  94,  128. 
Lamellicorn  beetles,  -180. 
Lampyridae,  69,  190. 
Lantern  fly,  61. 
Laphygma  f rugiperda,  129,  200,  224, 

226,  228. 
Lappet  moth,  American,  129. 

Velleda,  129. 
Large-eyed  ground-bug,  285. 
Leaf-beetle,  Sycamore,  74. 
beetles,  74,  139,  261,  262. 
bug.  Ash-gray,  273. 
Four-lined,  48. 
Grumpier,  130,  138,  173. 
folder,  Apple,  1.30. 
hopper,  Apple,  134. 
Black-fronted,  202. 
Destructive,  202,  288. 
Four-lined,  202. 
Tender- foot,  202,  287. 
undetermined,  288. 
hoppers,  45,  61,  286. 
insects,  33. 
miner,  Apple,  131, 
Thorn-apple,  131. 
Wheat,  200,  248. 
Wild  cherry,  131. 
roller.  Neat  strawberry,  1.30. 
Oblique-banded,  130,  176. 
Strawberry,  175. 
rolling  caterpillars,  137,  175. 
rollers,  138,  L71. 
skeletonizer,  138,  171. 

Apple,  130. 
tier,  Apple,  130. 

Green  apple,  130. 
Leather  jackets,  104. 
Lecanium  oleae,  135. 
Powdered,  135. 
pruinosum,  135. 
Leopard  moth,  163. 
food-plants,  163. 
Lepidoptera,  8,  9,  84,  127,  200. 
Lepisma,  16. 


Leptocoris  trivittatus,  1.34,  151. 
Leptostylus  aculifer,  132. 

Prickly,  132. 
Lesser  Migratory  locust,  297. 
Leucania  albilinea,  200,  232. 

unipuncta,  200,  228,  229. 
Libellula,  21. 
Lice,  biting,  9,  26,  50. 

^ouk,  9,  2o,  20. 

remedies  for,  50. 

sucking,  50. 
Limacodes  flexuosa,  128. 

scapha,  128. 

SkiflP,  128. 
Limenitis  dissipus,  127. 

Ursula,  127. 
Liopus,  facetus,  133. 
Lipeurus  squalidus,  27. 

variabilis,  27. 
Lithacodes,  Banded,  128. 

fasciola,  128. 
Lithocolletis  pomifoliella,  131. 
Locust,  American,  135,  176,  203,  300. 

Ash-colored,  203,  298. 

Detestible,  202,  298. 

Devastating,  135,  176,  202,  298. 

Differential,  135,  176,  203,  299. 

Dusty-road,  37. 

Green-faced,  135. 

Green-striped,  203,  301. 

Large  green,  176. 

Migratory,  176. 

Lesser  Migratory,  135,  176,  202, 
297. 

Long- winged,  37,  203,  .301. 

Peilucid-winged,  203,  301. 

Red-legged,  176,  177,  202,  296. 

Robust,  203,  298. 

Rocky    Mountain,    36,  135,   177, 
202,  258,  297,  298. 

Two-lined,  203,  299. 

Two- striped,  135. 
Locustidae,  30,  31,  39. 
Locusts,  9,  29,  35,  137,  176. 

Dipterous  parasite,  106. 
Long-legs,  Daddy,  207. 
Long-sting,  Delicate,  190. 
Long-winged  locust,  301. 
Lophoderus  triferana,  130. 
Louse,  Corn-root,  100. 

Field  mouse,  51. 

Pocket  gopher,  51. 
Loxostege  similis,  200,  234,  235. 

sticticalis,  239. 
Lycaenidag,  87. 
Lucanidse,  70. 


316 


INDEX. 


Lucanus  dama,  131. 

Lucky  bugs,  66. 

Lygaeidse,  48. 

Lygaeus  leucopterus,  270. 

Lygus  pratensis,  134, 149,  201,  285. 

Lyonetia,  Apple,  130. 

saccatella,  1.30. 
Macrobasis  unicolor,  76,  133. 
Macrocentrus  delicatulus,  190. 
Macrodactylus     subspinosus,      131, 
178,  179,  201,  254,  255. 

uniformis,  131. 
Macronyxia  variolosa,  132. 
Macrops  porcellus,  201,  265. 
Maggot,  Apple,  136.  139,  193. 

Wheat-stem,  199,  209,  210. 
Maia  moth,  128. 
Malachidae.  70. 
Mallophagidse,  26,  50. 
Mallota  posticata,  107. 
Mamestra,  172,  220. 

assimilis.  129. 

conf  usa,  129. 

picta,  129. 
Mantides,  9. 
Mantidee,  31,  32,  33. 
Mantis,  Carolina,  33. 
Mantispa,  81. 
Maple -scale.  Cottony,  54. 

worm.  Green-striped,  91. 
May-beetle,  131. 

Common,  257. 

Hairy.  131. 
May-beetles,  71, 139, 180, 182,  201,  257. 

life  history,  183,  258. 

remedies,  183. 
May-flies,  9,  17. 
Meal  beetles,  75. 

moth,  Indian,  242. 

Snout-moth,  200,  239. 

worm,  American,  75.  201,  263. 
European.  201,  263. 

worms,  remedies,  263,  264. 
Mealy-bugs,  52. 
Measuring- worms,  93. 
Mecoptera,  9,  82. 
Mediterranean  flour  moth,  200. 
Megoura,  202,  294. 
Melanoplus  angustipennis,  38. 

atlauis,  135,  202,  297. 

bivittatus,  133,  177,  203,  299. 

cinereus,  135,  203,  298. 

cyaneipes,  135. 

devastator,  135,  177,  202.  298. 

differentialis,  135,  176.  203,  299. 

femur-rnbrum,  135,  177,  202,  296. 

fcedus,  203,  298. 


Melanoplus 

herbaceus,  135. 

robustus.  203,  298. 

spretus,  35,  135,  177,  202,  297. 
anatomy,  10,  11,  12,  13, 14. 
Melanotus  communis,  69,  132,  201, 
252. 

flssilis,  201,  253. 

incertus,  132. 
MeloidsB,  76. 

Melolontha,  Scarred,  132. 
Membracidae,  59. 
Menopon  pallidum,  27. 
Meromyza  americana,  199,  209,  210, 

265. 
Mesograpta  polita,  103. 
Microcentrum  retinervis  39. 
Micrococcus  insectorum,  278. 
Microgaster,  166. 
Microgonia  limbaria,  129. 
Micropteryx,  Apple,  131. 

pomivorella,  131. 
Midge,  Apple,  136. 

Grain,  199,  205. 

Spotted-winged,  199,  205. 

Unfriendly,  199,  205. 

Wheat,  199,  206. 

Wheat-stem,  199,  205. 
Millipedes,  6. 

Mite,  Stored  grain,  203,  303. 
Mites,  6,  303. 
Mole  cricket,  42. 
Monarthrum  mali,  134. 
Monomorium  pharaonis,  1C2. 
Mosquito,  9,  105. 

hawks,  20. 
Mosquitoes,  giant,  104,  207. 
Moth,  Ash-gray  pinion,  129. 

Cecropia,  89,  128,  138,  169. 

Codling,  130,  139. 

European  Leopard,  128. 

Gipsy,  128. 

Green  hag,  128. 

Io,*128. 

Isabella,  92. 

Leopard,  163. 

Lime-tree,  Winter,  130. 

Maia,  128. 

Meal  snout,  200. 

Mediterranean  flour,  200. 

Plum,  130. 

Promethia,  128. 

Snow-white  Linden,  130. 

Unstable  drab,  129. 

wood-borers,  163. 


INDEX. 


317 


Moths,  9,  84,  88. 

clothes,  239. 

leaf  roller,  93. 

owlet.  93,  172,  221. 
Mow  fly.  Wheat,  213. 
Mule-killer,  35. 
Museum  pest,  254,  264. 
Mutilla,  101. 
Mutilidae,  101. 
Myriapoda,  6,  8,  15,  136,  229. 
Myrmecophila  pergandei,  43. 
Myrmeleonidfe,  80. 
Mytilaspis,  55. 

pomicorticis.  135. 

pomorum.  146,  147. 
Myzus,  202,  294. 
Nabis  fusca,  48. 
Negro-bug,  Flea-like,  201,  272,  273, 

284. 
Nitidulidge,  67. 
Nematus  marylandicus,  199,  213,  214. 

similaris,  95. 
Neoclytus  erythrocephalus,  132. 
Nephelodes  violans,  200,  221,  222. 
Neuroptera,  8,  9,  79. 
New  York  weevil,  160. 
Noctuidee,  93. 
Nolophana  malana,  129. 
Notonectidce,  46. 
Notoxus  calcavatus,  133. 
Nycteribidse,  109. 
Nymphalidae,  87. 
Nysius  angustatus,  134,  150,  201,272. 

284. 
Oak  apple.  99. 
Oat  weevil,  265. 
Ocneria  dispar,  128. 
Odonata,  9,  19. 
Odontota  dorsalis,  133. 

nervosa.  133. 
CEcanthus,  43. 

niveus,  135,  161,  162. 
CEdemasia  concinna,  128. 

eximia,  128. 
CEdipodinae,  36,  37. 
CEstridse,  108. 
CEstrus  ovis,  108. 
Oil  beetles,  77. 

Oncideres  cingulatus,  133,  155. 
Operophtera  boreata,  130. 
Ophion,  Long-tailed,  100. 

macrurum,  100. 
Orchelimum,  139. 

glaberrimum,  135. 
Orgyia  leucostigma,  128. 
Ornix  geminatella,  131. 
Orocharis  saltator,  43. 


Orphula,  39. 

Orthesia,  53. 

Orthoptera,  8,  9.  29,  135,  202,  295. 

Orthorhapba,  106. 

Orthosia  instabilis,  129. 

Oscinis  coxendix,  199,  213. 

crassiformis,  199.  213. 

Shank- banded,  199,  213. 

Thick-legged,  199,  21.3. 

tibialis,  199,  213. 

variabilis,  199,  211.  212. 

Yellow-hipped,  199,  213. 
Osmoderma  eremicola,  132. 

Hermit,  132. 

Rough,  132. 

scabra,  132. 
Otiorhynchidae,  78. 
Otiorhynchus  picipes,  133. 
Owlet  moths,  172,  221. 
Ox-louse,  Short-nosed,  50. 
Oyster-shell  bark-louse,  146,  147. 
Pachyneuron  micans,  102. 
Pachypsylla  c.  mamma,  59. 
Pachyrrhina,  199.  208. 
Palorus  depressus,  201,  265. 
Panchlora  viridis,  32. 
Pauorpa,  82. 
Paonias  excaecatus.  127. 
Papilio  turnus,  87,  88,  127. 
Papilionidae,  87. 
Parasite,  Apple  aphis,  156. 

Meteorus,  101. 

White-grub,  101,  258. 
Parasitic  fungi,  274. 
Parasitica,  45,  50. 
Parasites,  93. 

Paria  nigrocynea,  201,  261. 
Parlatoria  pergandei,  55. 
Parorgyia  parallela,  128 
Pasimachus  elongatus,  65,  2.38. 
Peacock  goniodes,  26. 
Pediculus  capitis,  50. 

vestimenti,  50. 
Pelidnota  punctata,  71,  131. 
Pempelia  hammondi,  171. 
Pemphigus  populi-monilis,  57. 

vagabondus,  57. 
Pentatomidae,  47. 
Periplaneta  orientalis,  33. 
Perla.  23. 
Perlida?,  23. 

Pezotettix  chenopodii,  135. 
PhaneropteriuEB,  40. 
Phasmidae,  31,  .33. 
Phigalia,  Banded,  130. 

strigataria,  1.30. 
Philethus  bifasciatus,  201,  261. 


318 


Philonthus  apicalis,  66. 
Phloeothrips  mali.  135. 
Phobetron  pithecium,  1?8. 
Photinus  pyralis,  70. 
Phoxopteris  nebuciilaua,  130. 
Phthirius  inguinalis,  50. 
Phycis  indigenella,  130,  173,  17i. 
Phyllophaga,  95. 
Phymaticlee,  47. 
Pliymateus  erosa,  48. 
Physapoda,  44. 
Pieris  rapae,  85,  87. 
Piesma  cinerea.  272,  273. 
Pigeon  Goniodes.  26. 

Tremex,  95,  98. 
Pill-beetles,  67. 
Pimplaannulipes,  189. 

Banded-legged,  189. 
Pinch-bugs,  70. 
Pinion,  Ash-gray,  139. 
Pionea  rimosellis,  94. 
Pipiza  radicum,  143. 
Pityophthorus,  134. 
Plagodis  keutzingaria,  129. 
Plant-bug,  Tarnished,  134,  149,  201, 

285. 
Plant-lice,  9,  45,  51.  56,  138. 

jumping,  59.  139. 

remedies.  58,  143. 
Plant-louse,  Apple-root,  134, 141. 

Boxelder,  57,  58,  145. 

Grain  56. 
Platypsyllus  castoris,  67. 
Platyptera,  9,  23,  136. 
Plecoptera,  9,  21. 
Plum  curculio,  78,  133,  139,  191. 

gouger,  77,  78. 133,  139, 192. 
Plutella  cruciferarum,  94. 
Podisus,  202,  285. 

spinosus,  48. 
Poduridaj,  16. 
PcEcilocapsus  lineatus,  48. 
Polistes,  103. 

f  uscata,  136. 
Polycaon  confertus,  132. 
Polydesmid.  229. 
Pomphopoea  aenea,  133. 
PompilidsB,  101. 
Porasa  chloris,  128. 
Potato-beetle,  Colorado,  201.  261. 
Potato-bug  sprinkler,  Steitz,  119. 

sprinkler,  Wheelbarrow,  120. 
Preying  insects,  32. 
Prionus,  Broad-necked,  132,  155. 

imbricornis.  132. 

laticollis,  132,  155,  156. 

Tyle-horned,  132. 


Prionyxtus  robiniae  92. 
ProctotrypidsB,  97,  98. 
Prodenia  comraelinee,  200,  222. 
Promethia  moth.  128. 
Prominent,  Trim,  138. 

Unicorn,  138. 
Pruner,  Apple-tree,  132,  137. 
Psenocerus  supernotatu';,  132. 
Pseudodrepa  panicea,  201. 
Pseudoneuroptera,  9. 
Pseudonophora  arcanella,  200,  244. 
PseudophyllinsB,  40. 
Psocid,  26. 
Psocidce,  25. 
Psylla,  Pear-tree,  134,  150. 

pyri,  150. 

pyrisuga,  134. 
Psyllidae,  59. 
Psylliodes,  262. 

interstitialis,  201,  262. 
Ptelea  polyphemus,  128. 
Pulvinaria  inuumerabilis,  54. 
Pupipara,  109. 
Pyralidae,  93,  239. 
Pyralis  farinalis,  200,  239. 
Pyrethrum,  51. 
Rearhorses,  31,  32. 
Red-legged  locust.  296. 
Red  spider,  203,  304. 
ReduviidsB,  47. 
Remedies,  113, 123. 

arsenites,  173,  176. 

attract  to  lights,  244. 

bacterial  disease,  278. 

bisulphide  of  carbon,  164,  246. 
264,265,269.304. 

boiling  water,  241. 

burning,  122.  216,  217. 

burning  rubbish,  284. 

burning  sulphur.  304. 

carabid  beetles.  256. 

clean  culture,  130,  285. 

clean  farming,  122,  284. 

clean  hedgerows,  122. 

crushing,  231. 

ditching,  231. 

domestic  fowls,  256. 

fencing.  231. 

flooding,  284. 

frogs,  274. 

frost,  146. 

gather  limbs  and  burn,  155,  157, 
160. 

Gray-fungus  disease,  379. 

ground-beetles,  260. 

ground  squirrels,  259. 


INDEX. 


319 


Remedies,   hand-picking,    122,    153, 

161,  162,  167,  174. 
harrowing,  122. 
hopper  dozer,  177,  301. 
hot  water,  122,  144,  152. 
insectivorous  birds,  233. 
insectivorous   vertebrates,   233. 
jarring  over  sheets,  183,  260. 
kerosene  emulsion,  51,  119,  145, 

147,  150,  151,  etc. 
kerosene  torch,  241. 
lard,  50. 
London    purple,    116,   172,   175, 

224. 
mice,  259. 

Micrococcus  insectorum,  274. 
moles,  259. 

natural  enemies,  159. 
parasitic  fungi,  273. 
parasitic  insects,  290. 
Paris  green,  116.  172,  175. 
plowing,  122,  231. 
poison  baits,  253. 
predaceous  insects.  290. 
predaceous  mites,  30.3. 
protecting  birds,  123,  284. 
protecting  parasites,  123. 
pruning,  122. 
pruning  and  burning,  149. 
quails,  274. 
reptiles,  256,  274. 
rolling,  231. 
rotation  of  crops,  219. 
shrews,  259. 
skunks,  259. 
small  mammals,  256. 
soap  solutions,  152. 
soapsuds,  144. 
spraying,  114. 
Sporotrichum  globuliferum,274, 

277. 
standard,  113. 
steam-heat,  241. 
stirring,  241. 
sulphur  fumes,  241. 
tar-paper  cones,  223. 
toads,  274. 
tobacco  fumes,  121. 
tobacco  water,  121,  146, 
trapping,  253. 
vaseline,  50. 
weak  lye,  146. 
White  fungus,  277. 
white-washing,  152,  241. 
woodpeckers,  153. 
Rhinoceros  beetles,  71. 


Rhogas  intermedins,  97. 
Rhopalocera,  85.  86. 
Rhopalosiphum,  202,  294. 
Rhynchitidae,  78. 
Rhyncophora,  77. 
Rhyncophorid.  Stored-grain,  269. 
Rice  weevil,  266. 
Robber  flies,  105. 
Rocky  Mountain    locust,    258,   297, 

298. 
Root-louse,  Apple-tree,  137,  140. 

Syrphus-flv,  143. 
Rose-beetle,  131,179. 

distribution,  180. 

enemies,  180. 

remedies,  180. 

chafer.  71,  131,  139,  178,  179,  201, 
254. 
natural  history,  255. 

weevil.  Red,  78. 
Rove-beetles,  66. 
Rye  Gall-gnat,  205. 

straw-worm^  200. 
Saddle-back  caterpillar.  128. 
Sand-cherry  gouger,  192. 
Saperda  calcarata,  133. 

Candida,  133,  153. 

cretata,  133. 
Saturniidge,  89. 
Saw-fly,  Collared,  199. 

Corn,  215. 

Grass,  199. 

Western  wheat-stem,  216. 

Wheat,  199,  213. 

Wheat-stem,  215. 

Wheat-stem,  Western,  199. 

Willow,  94,  96. 
Saw-flies,  9,  93,  95. 

remedies,  95. 

small-grain,  214. 
Scale-insects,  45,  51,  52. 

remedies,  55. 
Scale,  Black  California,  135. 

Greedy,  135. 

Maple,  146. 

Pernicious,  135. 

Wax,  of  Florida,  135. 
Scarabaeidae,  70. 

Schistocerca  americana,  135, 176, 203, 
300. 

Shoshone,  135. 
Schizoneura,  202,  294. 

lanigera,  134,  141. 
Sciaria  mali,  136. 
Scoliidae,  101. 
Scolopendra,  15. 
Scolopendrella,  15. 


320 


INDEX. 


Scolytidae,  78,  158. 
Scolytus  rugulosus,  134,  160. 
Scorpion  flies,  9,  82. 
Scorpions,  6. 
Scudderia  pistillata,  iO. 
Semasia,  130. 
Serica,  180,  256. 

iricolor,  131. 

Iridescent,  131, 
Sesia  pyri,  128. 
SesiidcTe,  91,  163. 
Shad-fly,  9,  79. 
Sheep  tick,  108,  109. 
Shellac  insect,  53. 
Shield-bearer,  Resplendent,  131. 
SialidsB,  79. 

Silk-worm,   American,   90,  128,  138, 
169. 

Cecropia,  89,  138. 
Silphida?,  67. 
Silvanus  advena,  249. 

cassiae,  219. 

Grain,  131. 

surinamensis,  69,  131,  200,  249. 
Sinoxylon  basilare,  132,  157. 

Red-shouldered,  132,  157, 158. 
Siphonella,  213. 

Obese,  199,  213. 
Siphonophora  aveme,  202,  288. 

granaria,  202,  294. 
Sitodrepa  panicea,  201,  253,  265. 
Skip-jacks,  251. 
Small  grain.  List  of  insect  enemies, 

199-203. 
Smerinthus  geminatus,  127. 
Smynthurus,  17. 

elegans,  203,  303. 

hortensis,  203,  .302. 

signifer,  203,  303. 
Snake-doctor,  19. 
Snake-feeders,  19. 
Snapping-beetle,  Common,  252. 

Eyed,  69. 
Snapping-beetles,  251. 
Snout-beetle,    Imbricated,    78,    133, 

161, 178. 
Snout-beetles,  139. 
Snout  moth.  Meal,  239. 
Snow  fleas,  9,  16,  .302. 
Snowy  tree-cricket,  161,  162. 
Span-worms,  93. 
Spectres.  33. 
Sphecidge,  102. 
Sphenophorus  ochreus,  77,  267,  268. 

parvulus,  201,  267, 
Sphingidae,  90. 


Sphinx,  Apple,  127. 

Blind-eyed,  127,  138. 

drupiferarum,  127. 

gordius,  127. 

Osage  orange,  90. 

Plum,  127. 

White-lined,  127, 
Spider,  Red,  203,  304. 
Spiders,  6,  303. 
Spilosoma  virginica,  127. 
Spiracle,  6. 
Spittle  insects,  61. 
Sporotrichum  globuliferum,  274, 
Spray  pumps.  Combination,  116. 

Galloway  knapsack,  115. 

Garfield  knapsack,  115. 

Gould's,  117. 

Improved,  116. 

Little  Gem.  114. 

Perfection  knapsack,  123. 

Victor  force,  115. 
Springtails,  9,  16,  302. 
Squalid  duck-louse,  27. 
Squash-beetle,  12-spotted,  261. 

bug,  47. 
Stag-beetle,  131. 
Stag-beetles,  70. 
Stagmomantis  minor,  53. 
Stalk  borer,  200.  228. 
Staphylinida?,  66,  159. 
Stenobothrus,  39. 

maculipennis,  36. 
Stenopelmatinae,  41. 
Sternidius  alpha,  132. 
Stictocephala  inermis,  202,  287. 

lutea,  202,  287. 
Stomata,  6. 
Stone-crickets,  39. 

flies,  9,  21. 
Stored  grain  mite,  303. 
Strawberry  leaf-roller,  175. 
Straw-worm,  Larger,  220. 

Rye,  220. 

Wheat,  200,  211,  217,  219. 
Streaked  Thecla,  127. 
Symphyla,  15. 
Syneta  albida,  133. 
Syrphidae,  106. 
Syrphus-fiy,  Root-louse. 

flies,  143. 

torvus,  292,  293. 
Sun-flies,  106. 
Swallow-tail,  Turnus,  127. 
Tabanidae,  105.  107. 
Tachina  fly,  224. 

Army-worm,  167,  173,  223. 


INDEX. 


321 


Taeniocampa,  129. 

Tarnish  plant- bug,  13i,  137, 139,  203. 

Tassel  tails,  15. 

Tenebrio  molitor,  201.  263. 

obscurus,  201,  263.' 
Tenebrioides  corticalis,  131,  250. 

dubia,  200,  250. 

Dwarf,  131. 

mauritanica,  200,  219. 

nana,  131. 
Tenebrionidae,  75. 
Tent  caterpillar,  228. 

Apple,  129. 

Apple-tree,  170. 

Forest,  91,  92,  93, 128. 
Tent  caterpillars,  138. 
Tenthredinidfe,  95 
Teras  cindrella,  130,  175. 

minuta.  130. 

oxycoccana,  130. 
Terebrantia,  91. 
Termes  flavipes,  23,  136. 
Termite,  Yellow- footed,  23. 
Termites,  9,  23.  136. 
Tetranychus  telarius,  203,  304. 
Tettigidea  lateralis,  37. 
TettiginsB,  36. 
Thecla  calanus.  85,  87,  127. 

liparops,  ]27. 

Streaked,  127. 
Thelia  crataegi,  131. 
Thriphleps  insidiosus,  273. 
Thrips,  9,  44,  139. 

Apple,  135,  139, 186. 

Grape,  44. 

Green-house,  44. 

Three-banded,  202,  295. 

Tritici,  135,  186,  202,  295. 

Wheat,  135,  202,  2U5. 
Thyridopteryxephemera3formis,128. 
Thysanoptera,  9,  44,  135,  202. 
Thysanura,  9,  10,  15,  202,  203. 
Ticks,  6. 

Tiger  beetles,  63. 
Tinea  granella,  200,  245. 
Tineid,  Scale-eating,  95. 
Tineidae,  93. 
Tingidae,  48. 

Tiphia  inornata,  101,  183,  259. 
Tipula  angustipennis,  199,  208, 

bicornis,  199,  208. 

costalis,  199,  208. 

hebes,  207. 
Tipulidae,  104. 
Tischeria  malifoliella  131. 


Tmetocera  ocellana,  130,  171. 
Tolype  velleda,  129. 
Tomicus  cacographus,  159. 

unispinosus,  159. 
Tomocerus,  10. 
Tortricidse,  93, 171,  173. 
Tortrix,  Shoulder-striped,  129. 
Toxares,  202,  294. 
Toxoptera  graminum,  202,  294. 
Tragocephala  viridifasciata,  135. 
Trapezonotus,  134. 

nebulosus,  49. 
Tree  cricket.  Snowy,  135,  161,  162. 

Snowy-winged,  43. 
Tree  crickets,  42,  43,  137,  161. 
Tree  hopper,  Buffalo,   59,  134,  137, 
148. 

Calf,  134. 

Thorn-bush,  134. 
Tree  hoppers,  9,  45,  51,  59, 139. 
lYemex  Columba,  98,  136. 

Pigeon,  136. 
Tribolium  ferrugineum,  201,  264. 
Trichodectes  pilosus,  27. 

scalaris,  27. 
Trichoptera,  9,  10,  83. 
True  bugs,  9. 
Trypeta,  Apple,  136. 

pomonella,  136,  193,  194. 
Tryxalinae,  36. 
Tumble  bugs,  71. 
Tussock  moth,  Hickory,  128. 

Spotted,  128. 

White-lined,  128. 

White-marked,  139,  168. 
Twig-borer,  Apple,  156, 157. 

girdler,  133,  137,  154,  155. 

pruner,  154,  155. 
Two-lined  locust,  299. 
Tyloderma  fragariae,  77. 
Typhlocyba  rosae,  134. 
Tyroglyphus  longior,  203,  303. 
Unicorn  prominent,  128. 
Unfriendly  midge,  199. 
Uroceridse,  95. 
Ursula  butterfly,  127. 
Vagabond  Crambus,  200,  242. 
Vanessa  antiopa,  84. 
Varying  Anomala,  260. 
Vermes,  8. 
Vespa  maculata,  103,  136. 

vulgaris,  136. 
Walking-sticks,  9,  29,  31,  33. 
Wasp,  Common,  1.36. 

White-grub  parasite,  259. 


322 


INDEX. 


Wasps,  9,  93, 101. 
digger,  102. 
paper,  102,  103. 
Water  boatman,  45,  46. 

tigers,  65. 
Web-worm,  Burrowing.  200,  244. 
Fall,  170,  229. 
Garden,  130,  200,  234. 
Palmer,  13S. 
Weevil,  Bean,  75. 
Grain,  201,  266. 
New  York,  133,  160. 
Oat,  201,205. 
Pea,  75. 
Pitchy-leg,  133. 
Remote  punctured  grain,  267. 
Rice,  201,  266. 
Western  cricket,  202,  296. 
Wheat  aphis,  202,  288. 
enemies  of,  290. 
hymenopterus  parasite,  291. 
Bulb-worm,  211,  212, 213. 
Chlorops,  199,  213. 
cut-worm,  200,  222. 
fly,  companion,  199,  213. 
Deceiving,  199,  213. 
Similar,  199,  213. 
Variable,  199,  211. 
Wheat-head  Army- worm,  232. 
Joint-worm,  200,  217. 
Leaf-miner,  200,  248. 
Midge,  199,  206. 
Mow  fly,  199,  213. 
Saw-fly,  199,  213. 
Stem  maggot,  199,  209,  210. 
midge,  199,  205. 
saw-fly,  215. 
saw-fly,  Western,  216. 
Straw-worm,  200,  211,  217. 

larger,  200,  220. 
Thrips.  202.  295. 
White  ants,  9,  23. 


White  fungus  disease,  277. 
.White  grubs,  70,  201,  257. 
enemies,  259. 
fungus,  184,  259. 
natural  enemies,  183. 
parasite,  101,  103,  183,  258. 
Wire-worm,  Common,  201. 

Pubescent,  201. 

worms,  69,  250. 

life-history,  251. 
remedies,  253. 
Wood-borers,  flat-head,  152. 

moth,  163. 

round-headed,  153. 
Worm,  Apple  bud,  1.30. 

Autumn  canker,  130. 

Comrade  plum,  131. 

Cotton,  129,  228. 

Larger  wheat- straw,  200. 

Palmer,  131. 

Rye-straw,  200. 

Spring  canker,  130. 

Striped  palmer,  131. 

Wheat-joint,  200. 
Worms,  bud,  137,  171. 
Xanthonia  10-notata,  133. 

Ten-spotted,  133. 
Xyleborus  obesus,  134, 

pyri,  134. 

xylographus,  134. 
Xyleutus  robinise,  128. 
Xylina  antenuata,  129. 

bethunei,  129. 

Bethune's,  129. 
Yellow-jacket,  139. 

jackets,  102. 
Ypsolophus  contubernalellus,  131. 

malifoliellus,  131. 

pomotellus,  131 
Zaitha,  47. 
Zeuzera  pyrina,  128,  163. 


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already  sold  over  2,000. 

For  full  particulars  and  terms  address 


CATSKILL,    N.  Y. 


CO, 


HAMMOND'S  SLOG  SHOT  WORKS, 

Fishkill-on-Hudson,  New  York, 


MANUFACTUBE 


Insecticides^andJFungicides. 

SLUG  SHOT  KILLS  BUGS. 


A  cheap  powder,  destructive  to 
insects  injurious  to  house  and 
garden  plants,  shrubs,trees,vines, 
potatoes,  melons,  cabbage,  cur- 
rants, etc.  Used  in  all  latitudes 
since  1880, with  SAFETY  to  man, 
beast,  and  fowl.  Put  up  in  per- 
forated screw-top  canisters,  five 
and  ten  pound  packages,  and 
bulk. 


London  Purple 

Has  been  used  for  more  than 

Fifteen    Years    by   Farmers 

Fruit  Gro-\vers,  and  others  to 

prevent  the  ravages  of 

Potato    Bugs, 

Caterpillars,    and    all    Leaf- 

Eating  Insects  with  the  most 

satisfactory  results. 

Hemingway's 

LONDON  PURPLE  CO.,  L'D, 

New  York. 


Wormy  Fruit  and  Leaf  Blight  of  Apples,  Pears, 
Cherries,  and  Plumb  prevented;  also  Grape  and 
Potato  Rot— by  Spraying  with  Stalil's  Double 
Acting  Excelsior  Spraying  Outfits.  Best  in  the 
market.  Thousands  in  use.  Catalogue  describing 
all  insects  injurious  to  fruit  mailed  free.  Address 
WM.   STAHL,   QUINCY,  ILL. 


The  Victor  Spray 
Pump. 


The  Improved  Spray 
Pump. 


The  Galloway 
Sprayer. 


Bugs  and  insects  annually  destroy  about  $500,000,000 
worth  of  crops  in  the  United  States.  Spray  your  Fruit 
Trees,  Grape  Vines,  and  Plants  and  help  reduce  this  loss. 
Whether  you  plant  for  profit,  pleasure,  or  home  consumption  you  should 
Spray!  Spray!  Spray!  in  order  to  insure  good  results.  We  carry  the  larg- 
est and  most  practical  line  of  Spray  Pumps,  Nozzles,  and  Spraying  Appli- 
ances in  this  country.  Write  us  for  prices  and  Treatise  on  Spraying.  Cata- 
logue of  20  pages  free  on  application.     Address, 

HEN  ION  &  HUBBELL,  55  and  57  N.  Clinton  St.,  Chicago,  111. 


THE  STEITZ 


Potato  Bug  Sprinkler. 


PATENT   BRUSH   SPRINKLER. 


A  practical  Machine  that  will  rapidly  and  successfully  per- 
form a  work  that  has  heretofore  been  slowly  and  tediously  done 
by  hand. 

How  many  hands  and  horses  it  takes,  how  much  time  and 
money  it  costs,  how  the  sprinkling  you  begin  on  a  fair  day  is 
stopped  by  stormy  ones?     You  know  all  this  better  than  we. 

But  maybe  you  do  not  know  how  easily,  cheaply,  and  quickly 
it  is  possible  to  sprinkle  potatoes;  that  you  can  take  a  STEITZ 
SPRINKLER  into  the  field,  and  in  a  single  day  sprinkle  from 
10  to  15  acres. 

This  way  you  do  not  need  any  hands  to  help,  and  only  one 
horse;  the  machine  does  the  work.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  fill 
the  tank  with  water  and  Paris  Green. 

FACTS  WORTH  KNOWING. 

Only  from  5  to  8  gallons  of  water  and  from  ^  to  ^  pounds 
of  Paris  Green  are  required  to  the  acre.  2}^  pounds  of  Paris 
Green  to  one  tank  of  water.     Apply  for  circulars  to 

J.  R.  STEITZ,  Manufacturer, 
Milwaukee  Co.  CUDAHY,  WIS. 


THE  DEMING  CO.'S 

SPRAYING  PUMPS  ^NOZZLES, 


KNAPSACK  SPRAYERS,  ETC, 


Fig.  659. 


Fig.  963. 


Fig.  655. 


Ji@"We  make  the  Best  Spray  Pumps,  Nozzles,  Etc.,  in 

the  United  States,  including  the  "  Deming,"  "  Ideal,"  "  Success," 
"Gem,"  and  "Peerless"  Spray  Pumps;  "Bordeaux,"  "Deming," 
and  "Vermorel"  Nozzles;  "Perfected  Galloway"  Knapsack 
Sprayer;  Bucket  Pumps  for  Greenhouse  and  Garden;  Spraying 
Appliances,  Etc. 

J|@°"Our  Pumps   and  Nozzles  are   endorsed  by  agricultural 
experiment  stations. 

World's  Fair  Awards  for  Highest  Merit 

"^^  spray  your  Fruit  Trees  and  Grape  Vi?ies;  hicrease  the  Har- 
vest and  Make  Money. 

Send  for  Catalogue  and  Price  List  of  Spray  Pumps,  Nozzles, 
Etc.     Address  the  manufacturers, 

THE  DEMING  COMPANY, 

Or  Salem,  Ohio. 

HENION  &  HUBBELL, 

(General  Western  Agents) 

Chicago,  111. 


The  Garfield  Knapsack  Sprayer 

FOR  VINEYARDS,  NURSERIES,  FRUIT 

ORCHARDS,  AND  POTATO  FIELDS-CONCAVED  TO 

FIT  THE  BACK. 

This  machine  consists  of  a  copper  tank  holding  five  gallons. 
The  pump  is  made  entirely  of  brass  and  copper,  and  cannot 
corrode  or  rust.  There  is  a  large  air  chamber  placed  inside 
the  tank  for  convenience,  which  has  sufficient  capacity  to  keep 
up  the  pressure  and  continue  to  discharge  the  spray  for  nearly 
one  minute  after  the  operator  stops  pumping.  A  brass  pipe  15 
inches  long  with  a  stop  cock  is  furnished  with  each  machine. 
The  nozzle  is  our  combination  Vermorel,  so  highly  recom- 
mended by  Prof.  Riley,  and  gives  universal  satisfaction.  The 
Vermorel  attachment  throws  a  fine,  misty,  vapor  spray,  but  on 
account  of  its  fineness  cannot  be  thrown  more  than  15  feet. 
Weight,  empty,  14  lbs.;  full,  60  lbs. 


Price         _       _       _       - 
With  Automatic  Agitator 


$10.50 
12.00 


THE  "LITTLE  GEM  "  SPRAYING  PUMP. 


It  stirs  the  Liquid  Automatically. 

This  pump  is  made  entirely  of  brass,  e.xcept  the  rubber 
hose  and  valve  packing,  making  it  practical  for  using  an> 
of  the  insecticides,  emulsions,  arsenites,  fungicides,  or 
ammoniacal  mixtures,  now  in  common  use  for  saving  fruit, 
foliage,  and  flowers  from  destruction  by  insects  and  fun- 
gus. It  is  supplied  with  our  "Combination  Vermorel  Noz-  / 
zle,"  which  throws  a  fine,  misty  spray,  using  only  a  small  '■^ 
amount  of  liquid  to  cover  a  large  space;  and  by  a  brass 
needle  point,  operated  by  a  spring,  may  be  condensed  to  ^" 
spray  a  single  plant  without  spraying  the  ground  betv\een 
the  plants,  and  this  needle  point  also  serves  to  clear  the 
nozzle  of  any  obstruction  that  might  lodge  in  the  aper- 
ture. It  has  two  feet  of  vulcanized  rubber  hose,  to  which 
is  attached  a  brass  hand  tube,  with  the  solid  stream  noz- 
zle firmly  fastened,  to  which  the  Vermorel  is  attached  or 
detached  by  a  screw  connection  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
operator. 

When  it  is  desired  to  throw  water  to  a  greater  distance 
than  can  be  done  with  the  Vermorel  nozzle,  unscrew  the 
Vermorel  attachment  and  the  water  can  then  be  thrown 
40  to  so  feet. 

This  pump  is  neat  in  design,  very  compact,  strong,  and 
durable,  nothing  liable  to  get  out   of   repair  or   wear  out 
that  could  not  be  replaced  at  a  cost  of  a  few  cents.     The 
entire  weight  of  the  pump  complete  is  4  lbs;  when  boxed  ^^ 
ready  for  shipment,  7  lbs. 

Price,  including  Vernnorel  Nozzle,  two  feet  of 

Inose,  and  foot  stirrup  _  _  _  _ 

This  pump  is  fitted  with  metal  valves.     Additional  hose  at  12  cents 

Address  for  either  machine 

FIELD  FORCE  PUMP  CO., 

Lockport,  New  York. 


$4.. 00 

per  foot. 


KnapsackSprayingMachine 


This  machine  is  made  in  accordance  with  directions  of  Prof, 
B.  T.  Galloway.  Tank  of  either  copper  or  galvanized  iron.  Dis- 
charge through  hose  and  iron  pipe  with  stop-cock  regulator, 
tipped  with  the  Filter,  Bourdil,  or  Vermorel  nozzle. 


@ 


Especial  attention  is  called  to  our  AT- 
TACHMENT for  this  machine  by  which 
KEROSENE  AND  WATER  are  ME- 
CHANICALLY  MIXED.  This  method 
does  away  with  the  necessity  of  making 
kerosene  emulsion.  In  this  machine  the 
kerosene  is  placed  in  a  separate  tank, 
which  is  attached  to  the  back  of  the  main 
tank  by  means  of  two  clips  at  the  side  near 
the  top,  and  holds  one  and  one-fourih  gal- 
lons. A  one-fourth  inch  hose,  attached  by 
a  collar,  connects  the  kerosene  tank  with  a 
brass  pipe  connecting  with  the  cylinder  of 
the  pump  just  below  the  lower  of  the  two 
balls  which  serve  as  valves.  A  stopcock  is 
provided,  so  that  the  kerosene,  or  a  portion 
of  it,  can  be  shut  off  at  any  time.  A  pipe 
for  the  passage  of  the  water  is  also  provided, 
which  likewise  has  a  stopcock  with  an  elon- 
gated handle  extending  through  the  top  of 
the  main  tank,  so  that  the  water  may  be 
shut  off  or  regulated  if  desired.  By  means 
of  this  attachment  any  proportions  of  kero- 
sene and  waterdesircd  can  be  pumped  from 
the  nozzle  by  simply  turning  the  stopcock. 


(§) 


We  also  make  a  full  line  of  Hand  and  Power 
Pumps  of  all  kinds  and  for  all  uses. 

Illustrated  Catalogue  free  upon  application. 

W.  &  B.  DOUGLAS, 

197  LAKE  ST.  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


2.  P.  MEl  GAtP 


